Unfortunately, that led to massive overcrowding that led to many being turned away from Lake Belton and Temple Lake Park areas on Friday.

That was compounded by the closures that are still in effect caused by last year’s flood. In Belton, the Westcliff Park and boat ramp, and courtesy docks at Westcliff and Sparta Valley are closed. At Stillhouse Hollow, Dana Peak Park is closed, as well as the trail bridges at Chalk Ridge Falls.

Capt. Fred Churchill, spokesman for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, confirmed that motorists trying to get into Lake Belton on Friday were being turned away for safety reasons.

“Everybody is flocking out there,” Churchill said. “Over the last several weekends it’s been so packed that you couldn’t get around out there.”

The concerns were raised by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the facility.

Those concerns, Churchill said, were brought to light to ensure that emergency personnel could respond if they are needed.

“We encouraged them that when they fill up to put a stop to it, and evidently they went ahead and did it,” Churchill said. “When you get so full that you can’t get police, fire and EMS in there, then it’s bad for everybody.”

This year is the first time since 2006 that crowds have really been able to enjoy the Lake Belton facilities.

Last year, the damage caused by flooding at Stillhouse Hollow Dam and other areas of Lake Belton closed the parks.

Park personnel began turning motorists away at Temple Lake Park at about 2:30 p.m. Friday. It remained closed for the rest of the day.

Churchill said he didn’t expect the lake to close so soon in the day.

“Temple Lake Park is the primo park to go to, but I am finally glad that the Corps” stopped people from coming in when it got crowded, Churchill said. “We needed them to do that. If you can’t get out of there in case of emergency, it really creates chaos.”