B.C. closing Peace Arch park at Canada-U.S. border due to 'significant' number of visitors

The province of British Columbiais closing its portion of Peace Arch Park onthe U.S.-Canada border, saying a "significant" increase in the number of visitors over the last monthhas created public safety concerns.

The park has been a loophole for loved ones and families separated since the international border closed, providing a mutual cross-country meeting pointbetween Surrey, B.C., and Blaine, Wash.

The park straddles the 49th parallel and is a space shared by both Canada and the United States, where it is known as Peace Arch Historical State Park.

B.C. Parks owns the northern half, while Washington State Parks owns the southern half. The U.S. portion of the park is still open for day use, according to the Washington State Parks website.

Entrances are patrolled from both sides of the border and there can beserious consequences for those who leave the park on the wrong side, but otherwise, visitors are free to spend time together as they please. Loved ones have used the space for family reunions, long-awaited hugs and intimate weddings.

WATCH | 'A lot of the couples here call it Disneyland,' one park visitor said earlier this month:

Families find ways to reunite despite border restrictions

4 years ago

Duration 2:05

Canada has created exemptions for family members separated by Canada-U.S. border restrictions, but a lot of people are excluded, so some are finding different routes to reunite.

The park closure begins at 8 p.m. PT on Thursday and will be in effect until further notice.

An 'oasis' for cross-border couple

Ryan Hamilton of Bellingham said for him and his new wife, Savannah Koop of Abbotsford, the park has been an "oasis" in recent months.

The border closures have kept them apart and even led to the cancellation of their wedding, originallyplanned for May 8.

On June 7, they were able to tie the knot at the park.

"I like to call it the happiest place on earth," Hamilton said in an interview with B.C. Today host Michelle Eliot.

Hamilton said he sees the park constantly packed withpeople reuniting. He said a friend flew in from the U.S. Midwest to come to the park and he knows of others who are driving across Canada and the U.S. to get there.

Hamilton said he is disappointed by the news that B.C. is closing its side.

Attendance doubled,province says

Peace Arch park reopened to the public on May 14, after B.C. closed all of its provincial parks in early April.

Since then, the province said Thursday, parking lots and local access roads have been "overwhelmed with nearly twice the number of vehicles compared to peak days in the summer season."

"Attendance has doubled over the same period compared to last year," astatement read.

The province said it tried to deter crowds by increasing enforcement patrols, posting signage, reducing park hoursand installing a permanent gate at the park entrance, but the closure has become necessary to addresspublic safety and traffic concerns.

As of June 8, immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can cross the border from the U.S. into Canada to stay with family, after the federal government announced an exemption to the border closure. Those coming to Canada cannot have symptoms of COVID-19 and must self-isolate for 14 days after their arrival.