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Bennett Spring Park remains open

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Missouri state parks, including Bennett Spring, remain open as of now while officials continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Visitor centers, park offices, campgrounds park-run lodging, trails and boat ramps are operating as normal. However, special events and group tours are being put off for now. “The team is closely monitoring the progression of COVID-19 and its effects in Missouri. While safety, stewardship and service are all very important to Missouri State Parks, safety is the top priority,” a statement on the state parks website said. According to the website, park and site special events, including both on and off-site programming sponsored by Missouri State parks are postponed or canceled through April 30. All planned group tours or school groups, including tours at the Missouri state Capitol are temporarily suspended through April 30. All indoor guided tours, including tours of historic buildings and caves are suspended through April 30. Self-guided tours of visitor centers, museums and nature centers remain open at this time. As of Monday, at the recommendation of the CDC, third-party events at parks and sites with 50 people or more in attendance should be postponed or canceled through April 30, the Parks department said. “Third-party events with less than 50 people in attendance are strongly encouraged to postpone or cancel. This is subject to change based on CDC recommendations,” according to the parks statement. As of Tuesday, at the recommendation of the CDC, reservations for group camps, open and enclosed shelters and special use camping of 50 or more people should be canceled. “Reservations with less than 50 people are strongly encouraged to cancel. No new reservations will be taken for shelters, group camps or special use camping through April 30,” the statement said. “This is subject to change based on CDC recommendations.”