NEWRY (SUN JOURNAL)– Step Falls in Newry will be closed for a month starting Saturday due to a recent surge of overcrowding and unruly visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Mahoosuc Land Trust, owners of the land, had the final say on the matter Friday. Sating that the falls will reopen to the public shortly after Labor Day weekend.
The spot is a common destination during the hot summer months and is no stranger to overcrowding, which has always been a major safety concern even before the pandemic due to its narrow road and small parking lot.
“Cars overflowed the lot and parked illegally on Route 26 and even on the lawns of local residents,” Kirk Siegel, Mahoosuc Land Trust executive director, said in a letter announcing the upcoming closing. “We are also aware that crowding has resulted in social distancing not being maintained — in the parking lot, on the trail and by the swimming holes and falls.” “….It’s a small area. There’s not a lot of space there for people even if there wasn’t a pandemic”
Nearing the end of July, temperatures skyrocketed, brining more people to the spot. This increase in visitors naturally led to fewer people abiding by state regulations to maintain a safe distance from one another.
The Trust knew this might be a problem at the start of the summer, and took a precautionary step by installing signage near the entrance of the park. The urged people to practice social distancing, and if the lots were full to come back another day. The signs also warned visitors that were they not to adhere to the request, then they increase the likelihood of the area being closed for the remainder of the summer.
