Second lady Karen Pence visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but not everyone was thrilled she did.
Pence visited the Tennessee park on Tuesday alongside Kate MacGregor, the deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior. The two were there to discuss the benefits of using the park to improve mental and physical health during the coronavirus pandemic. They also urged visitors to return to the parks to drive customers to nearby businesses suffering during the COVID-19 shutdowns.
“We come to a place like this, and we enjoy the warm sunshine on our faces or a soft mist like we do today … the sound of the wind, the sound of the rain on the tent, the trees overhead (and) the soft, earthy feel of the ground underneath our feet,” Pence said. “Not only are these experiences enjoyable to have, but they are good for us too.”
“There’s plenty of opportunity there (in the park) to practice your social distancing. … So, we’re saying come, come to the park,” she later added.
After the visit, David Lamfrom, southeast regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that Pence was wrong to call on people to visit the park and said visitors should stay home because of the virus.
“Karen Pence’s visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park downplays the risks of visiting a crowded park,” Lamform said. “When people learn that the vice president’s wife visited the park, they may believe it is safe for them to visit over the long weekend. It’s not.”
“The [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has recommended that people not visit crowded parks, especially where it is difficult or impossible to effectively maintain social distance. COVID-19 cases in both North Carolina and Tennessee have spiked over the past week. Before planning a trip to the park, we urge you to please consider your health, family, community, and the wellbeing of the tireless National Park Service staff,” he added.
Tennessee has had a relatively mild coronavirus outbreak with more than 18,000 COVID-19 cases and 305 deaths. Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, began reopening many of the state’s attractions this week.
