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Minn. DNR: Stay Out Of Camden, St. Croix Parks

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota wardens are urging residents to stay out of two state parks that sustained severe tree damage in a recent thunderstorm.

Chris Niskanen of the state Department of Natural Resources says it's unsafe to enter Camden State Park and St. Croix State Park. He says hundreds of trees were toppled in Friday's storm, leaving roads impassable and other trees unstable.

He says the parks were closed anyway because of the state government's shutdown. But he says it's extra-urgent to stay out because of safety issues.

Niskanen says once the shutdown ends, it could take several days before crews can clean the damage and reopen the parks.

He notes that the shutdown might have been fortuitous because people could have been injured in the storm had the parks been open.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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