In spite of an announcement Friday from Gov. Ralph Northam’s office that Machicomoco State Park would be opening later this month, the new Gloucester state park is not ready for an October opening, according to Dave Neudeck, Public Communications and Marketing Director for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Northam made his announcement in conjunction with the declaration of Monday’s celebration of Virginia’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a new holiday that replaces Columbus Day in the commonwealth.

Neudeck said that the event that was meant to take place on Monday was only a dedication and that the park is not ready to be opened to the public yet. That dedication ceremony was not held.

The park is close to being ready, but still weeks away with the last bit of construction wrapping up, Neudeck said. He did say that the park is on schedule and will open to the public sometime later this year.

Machicomoco State Park is located off Timberneck Farm Road ...