News Release

Tallgrass Prairie to modify operations to implement latest COVID-19 health guidance

Entrance to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

NPS

News Release Date: March 18, 2020 Strong City, KS – Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state authorities to promote social distancing. The park evaluated areas of potential risk of exposure to COVID-19. Based on this analysis, effective immediately, the preserve will temporarily close the Visitor Center and buildings until further notice.

The preserve’s 40 miles of hiking trails remain open. Please continue to follow posted safety warnings and guidelines when hiking through the bison pasture, keeping at least 100 yards away from the animals at all times. During this time of uncertainty, we encourage visitors to enjoy Tallgrass Prairie online via the preserve’s website virtual tours, photo galleries, and on Facebook.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels.  

The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting a park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick.   

For high-risk populations, such as the elderly and people with underlying conditions, we ask that they take extra caution and follow CDC guidance for those at higher risk of serious illness. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located two miles north of Strong City on Kansas State Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway) and is a unique public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. For more information, visit the preserve’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NPS.TallgrassPrairie , website at www.nps.gov/tapr, email e-mail us, or call the preserve at [phone].
To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, visit the Conservancy’s website at
www.nature.org/Kansas or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TNCKansas .

www.nps.gov


About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.