LEXINGTON, S.C. — Dominion Energy has announced significant changes to how visitors access one of the most popular destinations along Lake Murray.
The utility, which manages the park, said that changes at Lake Murray Public Park will go into effect on Saturday, June 8 and impact how many people can enter the park and how they can enter. The changes will mean that pedestrian access will no longer be permitted at the Lexington side reaction area. Visitors must now use their vehicles to enter the park during operating hours, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
When the park is at capacity, no additional visitors will be allowed to enter, and they will also not be allowed to wait for a parking space outside the gate or on North Lake Drive. Authorities said this was due to traffic issues.
According to Dominion Energy, this will not impact the walkway on the dam. People at the park shared their thoughts on Friday.
"Either choose another park or pay like everyone else," visitor Samantha Gathers said. "Because if you're driving in and you have to pay, it's only right for the people who are walking in to have to pay as well."
"It'll keep the crowds at the normal level instead of get overcrowded and too packed," visitor Colin Wright added.
"So, if Dominion owns it and Dominion's allowing people to come use their property, then I suppose that then they're entitled to do what they want to do," another visitor, Cory Jones, said.
There is also new signage at the park that reads, "Notice, no walk-ins." Dominion Energy said security will enforce the new rules.
"We are talking to Dominion, DNR, different, all the different entities around the lake all the time and certainly understand the need for more areas for the public to come to the lake," said Debi Lafayette, president of the Lake Murray Association.
Lafayette said a lot of this decision has to do with crowd control and safety, following an incident over Memorial Day weekend when someone had a medical emergency and was hard to reach by first responders.
Capital City/Lake Murray Country President Miriam Atria said that for safety reasons and because of these new rules, they've had to change some events.
In a provided statement, Billy Chastain, the manager of Lake Management for Dominion Energy, apologized for any inconvenience the change could cause but thanked everyone for their patience.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy our parks, but the amount of visitors and heavy traffic congestion are causing public safety concerns," he said. "Safety must remain our top priority.”
The protocols will continue through the season, which ends on Labor Day.