Pierre, S.D.-While the weather may be starting to turn to fall, South Dakota Game Fish and Parks (GFP) officials are reminding residents and visitors that State Parks still have a lot to offer.
“September is one of the best months to be in a state park,” state GFP Parks Division Deputy Director, Al Nedved.
“While marquee events like the Mickelson Trail Trek and the Buffalo Roundup are awesome: camping, fishing, hunting, and fall foliage brings people to the parks as well, and it usually is quieter than summer.”
While parks are still a big draw in the fall, visitors should be aware that parks crews are getting ready for the winter.
“Usually our comfort stations stay open until late October,” Nedved said. “We get a lot of hunters staying in the parks, and we like to keep those open as long as possible. However, things like swim beach buoys will start coming out as the weather begins to cool.”
While doing their fall maintenance, GFP Parks employees also do an inventory of equipment to determine what will need to be replaced or fixed. During their maintenance and inventory, parks employees discovered zebra mussels on swim buoys at Pelican Lake Recreation Area near Watertown.
“I was contacted by parks employees with photos of some swim buoys that had mussels attached to them,” said GFP Fisheries Program Administrator Jake Davis. “Upon further investigation, we now consider this waterbody positive for zebra mussels.”
While parks employees do their part to get ready for winter, parks remain open, active, and ready for visitors to enjoy.
“Parks really are open all year long for folks to come out and have fun in the outdoors. We put our parks on par with any in the country and the fun doesn’t stop just because summer is almost done,” said Nedved. “The opportunities and solitude of a state park in the fall and winter are incredible and we want people to come out and see for themselves.”
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