Prince William Forest Park has been closed for at least two weeks after heavy winds downed trees and power lines, and damaged camping areas, officials announced Tuesday.
The park that covers more than 14,000 acres in Triangle, Virginia, is expected to be closed for two to three weeks, the National Park Service said in a statement.
“The safety of our visitors and staff is our absolute first priority,” Tanya Gossett, superintendent of the park, said in a statement. “Our crews are working with determination to clear hazardous trees from roads and trails and to replace electrical lines in campgrounds, cabin camps and picnic areas, so the public can safely enjoy the park.”
The storm, which brought wind gusts as strong as 70 mph to the region, caused more damage to the park than Hurricane Isabel, Hurricane Sandy and the 2012 derecho, the park service said.
A photo from the park shows a huge uprooted tree near a building.
After debris is removed, work crews will begin to reopen the most commonly used parts of the park. About 500 trees have been removed from park roads since Saturday.
