PETERSBURG, Va. (WWBT) - Despite widespread impacts from the government shutdown that started on Wednesday, visitors are taking in the sun shining down on the Petersburg National Battlefield.

“Any time you can get out and the weather is not raining on you, even if the government is shut down or not, you got to enjoy the little things that you get,” said Joshua Shea, a park visitor.

But, the gates to the Visitor Center are locked due to the shutdown. However, Shea was still able to walk his dog on the trails near Hickory Hill.

“The road seemed pretty clear. There was one other person out there, usually, there’s a lot more people on the trail, either bikers or otherwise, but it was a lot more vacant than normal,” Shea said.

Tom Redfern walks the battlefield regularly and was shocked to s

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