New Jersey is getting its parks and golf courses back this weekend.
That is, according to Gov. Phil Murphy, as long as the state’s residents can comply with new guidelines in place following Wednesday’s executive order.
“We’re basically saying: We’re prepared to trust you,” Murphy said during his daily coronavirus press briefing on Wednesday in Trenton. "You’ve been trusting us, and we will never forget that. We’re returning some amount of that trust by saying, ‘We’re gonna open these up, but you’ve got to behave in a certain way.’”
Here’s the full list of state parks that will open this weekend.
While the public will again have access to state and county parks, plus golf courses, starting at dawn on Saturday, residents will need to continue to practice social distancing while using them in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 116,000 residents and led to 6,770 deaths.
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Murphy strongly recommended all people wear face coverings while at parks and golf courses, but the executive order does not require facial protection.
He also warned that he could pull the plug and order the parks closed again if residents can’t stick to social distancing. Parks police will be out in force to keep an eye on things, he said.
“We’ll be looking very, very closely this weekend in how people adhere to these, both social distancing guidelines as well as whether or not you’re covering your face,” Murphy said Wednesday. “If we don’t like what we see, I hate to say this, I reserve the right to reverse the Executive Order that I’m signing today. So please enjoy the parks, but stay away from each other. Do not congregate. Wear a face covering, be responsible. If we have a good weekend this weekend, that hopefully can lead to better days ahead. We can keep these parks open.”
Temperatures this weekend will hover around 70 degrees under sunny skies on both Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Here are the other rules for residents ready to return outdoors:
State Parks
State parks and forests will be open for passive recreation — meaning activities including fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, hiking, walking, running or jogging, biking, birding, and horseback riding will be permitted.
However, parts of state parks will remain off limits, including picnic areas, playgrounds, exercise stations and equipment, chartered watercraft services and rentals, swimming, pavilions, restrooms, and other buildings and facilities, such as visitor centers, interpretive centers, and interior historical sites.
Picnicking anywhere in state parks will be prohibited.
Contact sports and activities, plus gatherings of any kind, are also off limits.
Parking will be limited to 50% of a park’s maximum capacity.
County Parks
All county parks that were closed by Executive Order No. 118 will reopen on Saturday. Parks that were closed prior to that executive order are permitted to reopen at the discretion of their respective counties.
County parks must abide by the same restrictions placed on state parks in Wednesday’s executive order.
Recreational campgrounds and temporary camp sites at campgrounds will remain closed, while residential campgrounds, such as mobile home parks, condo sites, and seasonal contract sites can remain open.
Golf Courses
Golfers hitting the links on Saturday and beyond will face a variety of new social distancing guidelines and alterations to courses.
Groups will be limited to two players, unless a foursome consists of immediate family members, caretakers, household members or romantic partners.
Tee times must be at least 16 minutes apart, and golf carts will be limited to one person, unless they are shared by immediate family members, caretakers, household members and romantic partners. No caddies will be permitted with golfers.
Golf carts will require sanitation following each usage, as will restrooms, range buckets and push carts.
Courses will be required to keep their buildings and pro shops closed. Facilities will also be prevented from selling or renting clubs. Courses must implement reservation and payments systems by online or telephone services.
During play, golfers will be restricted from touching golf holes and flags. Bunker rakes, benches, water coolers and ball washers must all be removed from courses.
Miniature golf courses and driving ranges must remain closed under Murphy’s executive order.
Murphy’s decision to reopen parks and golf courses came after weeks of pushback about his April 7 call to close them, though the governor said Wednesday’s decision was based on the state’s continued trend of improved coronavirus numbers.
Opening parks and golf courses marks the first major restriction lifted during the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey.
“More than ever, we know how important it is for the people of New Jersey to take a break from the ongoing self-quarantine and that there are few options for outdoor recreation,” DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said.
“Just as the decision to close parks and forests was not made lightly, the decision to reopen them has also been made with careful thought and consideration for the health and well-being of the public. We urge visitors to only visit their closest parks, keep their distance from others while outdoors, wear masks and follow the guidelines established to protect public health.”
Murphy’s decision was met with approval from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
“We’re pleased that Gov. Murphy is reopening state and county parks for recreation, which is so critical for mental and physical health,” said Ed Potosnak, the group’s executive director. “We encourage New Jerseyans to use parks responsibly, following social distancing to protect themselves and others while enjoying the benefits of nature.”
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Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ.
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Don’t screw this up, N.J.! Before parks and golf courses reopen, here are new coronavirus rules. - NJ.com
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