Anyone hoping to cool off at Ebenezer Park this week is out of luck for now. York County officials have temporarily shut down the popular swimming area after a routine water sample taken yesterday came back with an elevated level of E. coli. Signs are up at the beach, and county staff say follow-up samples were expected today or tomorrow. If those tests clear the water, the swim area will reopen. The move is a repeat of a short shutdown at the same spot last June, when routine testing also flagged elevated E. coli levels.
County notice and next steps
According to York County, water at Ebenezer Park is sampled twice a month, and the swim area was closed after test results showed an "elevated level" of E. coli. The county says warning signs have been posted at the beach, and follow-up test results are expected by Tuesday or Wednesday. If those samples come back clear, the swimming area will reopen to the public.
Repeat problem: June 2025 closure
This is not the first time the park has had to hit pause on swimming because of bacteria concerns. Local coverage shows the beach dealt with elevated E. coli last June, when the swim area was closed and then reopened after follow-up testing. As reported by WIS, county officials closed the area "until further notice" in June 2025 and reopened it within a few days after additional samples cleared the water. WBTV notes that York County has not specified what strain of E. coli was detected this week.
What E. coli means for swimmers
The CDC says most strains of E. coli are harmless, but some can make people sick. Symptoms can include diarrhea and, in rare cases, more serious infections. To cut the odds of a recreational water-related illness, the CDC recommends not swallowing water, staying out of the water when sick with diarrhea, and taking extra care with young children and people with weakened immune systems. Park staff and health officials monitor samples and close swim areas when indicator bacteria hit levels that suggest fecal contamination.
When it might reopen
York County’s notice says follow-up results are expected by today or tomorrow. If those tests come back clear, the swim area will reopen. Until then, visitors are urged to check the county park page for updates and follow posted signs at Ebenezer Park for the latest status.
