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Examining the success of local parks in Queen Anne's County due to COVID-19

Examining the success of local parks in Queen Anne's County
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QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY — When the virus hit and almost everything that involved going inside closed, people headed outside.

What were once unknown or "little local secrets" became the destinations for not only locals but people one or two hours away.

In Queen Anne's County, the open space parks that usually have a dozen or so of visitors at a time, found some parks with a couple thousand people crowded in them.

In Queen Anne's County, commissioners looked at options to only allow those who live in the county or to charge extra if you lived out of the area.

County Commissioners decided to restrict the amount of people that come at one time and that helped.

"We just picked up breakfast here at a local bagel shop here on Kent Island, so we decided to take our bagels here and have breakfast and sit outside and enjoy the weather. It's a beautiful day," said one visitor.

Going to the theater, the mall or even a bowling alley cost you money. Mother Nature, well, that can be free.

Like many administrators in the state, Queen Anne's County commissioners will discuss other options for their state parks and open space areas in their communities going forth for next year if the numbers stay elevated.