Politics & Government

Valley Forge Geared Up For Shut Down

What you can and can't do within the park's boundries during the government shut down.

The federal government shut down means closing national parks, including Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Monday afternoon found park employees waiting like everyone else to see what Comgress would do.

Chief Park Ranger Gary Tinkham and 10 other law enforcement rangers, along with a very small number of park service public works crew members are considered essential workers. That means they will work while the rest of the park's 60 employees are off the job during the shut down.

During the shut down the state roads that run through the park (PA 252 and 23 and Yellow Spring Road) will remain open. The parking areas, trail heads, trails visitor center and other parts of the park would all remain closed. Tinkham says the section of the Schuylkill River Trail (which is under the jurisdiction of local authorities) that runs through the park will remain open but the Bettswood Restrooms (which are under federal jurisdiction) will be closed.

You can drive through the park as usual to get from one end of the other, but you can't stop in the park's parking lots and attractions like Washignton's Headquarters.  Gates to those areas will remain closed and locked as long as the shut down lasts.


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