Carbon County officials say collaboration with two local communities will be the key to determining if Mauch Chunk Lake Park can successfully be shut to all out-of-county visitors during the yellow phase of reopening.

Last week, Commissioner Chris Lukasevich revisited the feasibility of limiting the 40,000-square-foot park to county residents as a way to create a safe recreational area during the pandemic.

Following a teleconference with the parks and recreation commission, an advisory board to the county, earlier this week, Lukasevich said there were five major areas the county must weigh before making any decision. They include the safety of the employees and vistors who use Mauch Chunk Lake Park; the financial aspect; the verification process; the park capacity; and information sharing.

Lukasevich the county may need to look for the swimming and camping areas, and parking, to ensure the safety of visitors and employees from COVID-19, as well as people from out of the area who insist on coming to the park even if it closes to out-of-county residents.

The county needs to determine effects of the lost revenue, and how it would affect the park’s contracted vendors.

“I have no doubt in this world that we can do this safely, we can do this responsibly, but there are critical factors and critical resources that are needed,” Lukasevich said, mainly finding a partnership with Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill mayors and police departments.

“Without their constructive input and without their cooperation, there is no way we can safely and responsibly move ahead with the consideration of a restricted use during the yellow phase,” he said. “I want to ensure the residents of Carbon County, we are doing all we can to move forward, looking at all the criteria and some of the issues and concerns about this restricted opening to look forward to ensure you have a safe place for your physical and mental well-being.”

In other county tourism matters, the board of commissioners temporarily suspended vendor use of Josiah White Park in Jim Thorpe because of the pandemic. The four vendors will receive refunds for the payments they made.