Ocean County To Close Its Parks During Coronavirus Outbreak

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — All Ocean County parks and natural lands will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday until further notice because of the novel coronavirus.

The County operates 27 parks. The measure doesn't impact municipal and state parks, which remain up to the discretion of their respective governments.

“We had started to close some parks to the public last week in an effort to curtail large gatherings and because of a lack of social distancing,” County Freeholder Virginia E. Haines said in a statement. “Because the power of social distancing cannot be stressed enough we are taking this next step and shutting down all of our parks and natural land sites to the public.”

Related article: Island Beach State Park Is Open, Free As Coronavirus Hits NJ

Ocean County already shut down its two golf courses, public playgrounds, playing fields and nature centers to the public. County officials closed the Mantoloking Bridge County Park and its fishing pier last week because the park is too small to allow for social distancing, Haines said. Read more: Crowds Force Mantoloking Bridge Park Closure Amid Coronavirus

Officials have confirmed 954 cases of the virus in Ocean County as of Tuesday morning. See the breakdown by municipality.

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Ocean County has more than 4,000 acres of county parkland and 30,000 acres of natural lands. Popular county parks include Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood; John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park at Berkeley Island; Wells Mills County Park, Waretown; Ocean County Park, Lakewood; Cattus Island County Park, Toms River; and the Barnegat Branch Trail which travels from Barnegat Township north through Berkeley Township.

"We cannot police everyone who does not want to change their behavior during this very turbulent time,” Haines said. “Closing down our open spaces will, I hope, result in people staying home unless they are essential workers or need to get to a food store, drug store or health care provider.”

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office and Security Department will continue patrolling the county parks during the closure.