National Parks will remain partially open during the shutdown: what to know

America's national parks will remain partially open during the government shutdown, per the Department of Interior's contingency plan.

The big picture: "Park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors," according to the department. • Staff will be maintained to address "health and safety" for these sites, meaning restrooms will be open and trash will be collected.

Driving the news: The government shutdown began at midnight after Congress failed to authorize a short-term spending stopgap in time.

State of play: The contingency plan says that areas may close if visitor access becomes a "safety, health or resource protection issue."

Zoom out: The current plan for parks appears to address in part the concerns of park employees and advocate