South Galveston News

GALVESTON – Galveston has closed its beaches as day-trippers have continued to flock to the island despite the coronavirus pandemic.

The city last week closed beaches to the public and banned vehicular traffic from the West End beaches in an unprecedented move to continue to deter visitors and public gatherings.

City officials had initially hoped such a drastic move was not necessary, but as visitors continued to stream in in large numbers, they decided to shut it down.

According to The Daily News, Mayor Jim Yarbrough signed the orders that prohibit people from walking on the beaches and ban cars, trucks, golf carts, motorcycles and mopeds from accessing the beach from Farm to Market Road 3005.

“I hate to do it for locals, but we’ve got to do it,” Yarbrough told The Daily News.

The city placed barriers at Sunny Beach and Hershey Beach as well as the rest of the West End access points and plans to place barriers at some of the more popular access points, Maxwell said.

Despite the fact that Galveston beaches are overseen by the Texas General Land Office, land office spokeswoman Karina Erickson said in a statement that local governments can close beach access points in emergency situations.

“Since the city declared a state of disaster March 16, it has closed bars and tourist attractions, limited restaurants to drive-in or take-out, shut down fishing piers and prohibited hotels, short-term rentals and bed-and-breakfasts from renting to most people,” according to The Daily News.

Officials hope that the public will finally get the message and adhere to the numerous warnings that have been issued throughout the state and country.

“We have tried to take systematic steps over the last week to reduce the island of tourists, and we’ve had some success, but we’re still getting day-trippers,” Yarbrough said. “We encourage you not to come.”

The order will be extended as needed.