South River Tried To Reopen Playgrounds, Told No

SOUTH RIVER, NJ — Not so fast, South River. That was the message from the Middlesex County Prosecutor Thursday morning, when the tiny borough of South River announced in a Nixle alert they would be reopening playgrounds and basketball courts this Friday.

"It was my decision," said South River Mayor John Krenzel. "I made it alone."

He said he was mistaken in thinking he could reopen playgrounds.

Krenzel said he thought with Gov. Murphy's reopening of all state and county parks at sunrise this Saturday, May 2, he could reopen playgrounds and basketball courts, too.

The ill-fated Nixle alert went out at 9 a.m. Thursday: "Effective Friday, May 1st, all borough parks in South River will reopen, including basketball courts and playgrounds. Effective Saturday, May 2nd, New Jersey state and county parks will be permitted to reopen."

Then the calls started coming in.

"Our chief of police got two calls this morning from the Middlesex County Prosecutor, telling us that our decision was not in line with the Governor's executive order closing playgrounds," said Krenzel.

South River police sent a second Nixle a few hours later: Parks and local fishing spots will open, as will golf courses for passive recreation. But playgrounds and basketball courts must remain closed.