Howell Parks Will Reopen To Youth Sports, Playgrounds Stay Closed

HOWELL, NJ - Less than 24 hours after all parks in Howell were ordered shut due to COVID-19 concerns, an update from the office of the township manager issued the reopening of youth sports fields on Wednesday. Playgrounds and other "high-touch" areas will remain closed for cleaning.

On Tuesday evening at approximately 5 p.m., the township released a surprise announcement shutting all parks immediately “as a result of increased complaints” related to the increased use of the town's outdoor facilities. The notice also cited the “failure” of park visitors to adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing protocols as another reason to shut.

Previous coverage: Howell Twp Parks Closed Until Further Notice Amid COVID 'Uptick'

The abrupt notice was met with an alarmed response from residents, immediately sparking concerns and confusion over the continuation of youth sports. Howell Mayor Theresa Berger took to social media Tuesday evening to voice her concerns over the decision, which was reportedly made by the township manager and Howell’s Office of Emergency Management:

“I completely agree with temporarily closing our parks but there needs to be an exception for organized sports that are abiding by the Department of Health's health and safety protocols,” Berger wrote. “In the next few days, I will be meeting with township officials to fix this situation so we can get our kids back out on the fields for their 2020 seasons.”

According to the Wednesday update, the township has been in communication with directors of youth sports leagues regarding COVID-19 safety precautions. “[The leagues] have observed proper protocols and have taken responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others. As a result, we will be allowing them to utilize our parks again. We expect them to return to the fields today," the Wednesday notice reads.

"We continue to work on a plan to phase in usage over the next several days, but at this point we are keeping playground[s] and other ‘high-touch’ areas closed.”

In the following days, the township will be cleaning and sanitizing area parks, including youth sports fields. Neighboring Lakewood Township has agreed to assist the cleaning effort by mobilizing its own Department of Public Works. The reopening of parks in the township will commence once the sanitization process has been completed, according to the letter.

Howell shares a border with Lakewood, a town that has been previously cited by the governor as a COVID-19 hotspot. Since March, Lakewood has reported over 4,800 coronavirus cases and 203 deaths. Last week, the municipality’s positivity rate soared to 27 percent.

But for Howell locals calling for park access to allow residents only, the township provides a simple answer: it just isn’t legal.

“There have been instances where other towns have tried to restrict the use of their parks to their own residents,” the letter concludes. “They were sued not only for unlawful discrimination, but also for violating the terms of New Jersey Green Acres grants, which require parks to be open to all.”

Thanks for reading! Have a news tip? Email nicole.rosenthal@patch.com. Want to write for Patch? Click here.
Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app, download here. Follow Howell Patch on Facebook.