Barnegat Parks, Municipal Dock Open For Certain Activities

BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat opened its Municipal Dock and township parks for passive recreation. The Township closed all parks and playgrounds, the skate park and the Municipal Dock last month because of the new coronavirus.

The Township announced the reopening Wednesday in a Nixle alert. Here are the guidelines:

• Parks are open for passive activities only, such as walking, jogging or running.
• Gatherings of any size are prohibited.
• Organized sports activities are prohibited.
• All play structures, courts, the skate park, bathrooms, fitness equipment and playing fields remain closed.
• If you don't feel well, don't use the park.
• The Township highly recommends using a face mask.
• Everyone must practice social distancing.

Barnegat police will continue to monitor the areas.

The Township closed all parks, playgrounds and the skate park mid-March. Barnegat Police Chief Keith Germain recommended to the Township Committee to close the dock too.

"As the weather has gotten nicer our officers on patrol observed that more and more people were congregating at the Municipal Dock," Germain said March 29 in a statement.

Since then, Ocean County closed all of its county parks and natural lands March 31. Murphy signed an executive order earlier this month to close all state and county parks. But he announced Wednesday that he will lift the restriction starting at sunrise Saturday.

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The County closed parks before Murphy's executive order, so it will review Murphy's recent action and make a decision on reopening.

"Ocean County will review the Governor’s executive order and will release information on this later today or tomorrow," County Public Information Officer Donna Flynn told Patch.

The Ocean County Health Department has reported 182 coronavirus cases and nine deaths as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. The OCHD has reported 174 cases and 13 deaths in Stafford.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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