Stafford To Open Park Bathrooms, Lift Some Coronavirus Rules

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Stafford Township is getting ready to lift some of its coronavirus restrictions at parks. All Township parks will open for recreation Friday, and bathrooms will reopen too.

Mayor Gregory E. Myhre and Police Chief Thomas Dellane signed a proclamation Tuesday adjusting some of the rules.

The Township will require masks to enter bathrooms, and signs will get posted in all parks to practice social distancing. Tennis and pickle ball courts are now open for singles play or doubles matches in which the partners live in the same household.

Playground equipment, pavilions and basketball courts remain closed.

Jennifer Lane Bay Beach will open June 15. Social distancing will be practiced, and officials will limit capacity to 50 percent.

Stafford parks prohibited certain activities during the pandemic but remained open for activities such as walking, running and fishing.

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Barnegat previously closed its parks and municipal dock but announced April 29 that they reopened for passive recreation. Play structures, courts, the skate park, bathrooms, fitness equipment and playing fields remain closed. Read more: Barnegat Parks, Municipal Dock Open For Certain Activities

The Ocean County Health Department has reported 220 coronavirus cases in Stafford and 220 in Barnegat. Twenty-one have died from the virus in Stafford, while COVID-19 has killed 10 people in Barnegat.

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

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