As Shutdown Continues, Sandy Hook Resumes Some Services

HIGHLANDS, NJ — Sandy Hook, which has been partially closed due to the continued federal shutdown, announced Tuesday they will partially re-open some basic park services.

Since the Trump-vs.-Congress shutdown began at the start of January, Sandy Hook's outdoor areas have remained open to visitors. However, all visitor centers shut down, and — sadly — the park's many planned programs stopped operating.

Today, the federal park service announced they will start re-opening some bathrooms, plowing roads and picking up garbage. Volunteers had been removing garbage from the park themselves.

"Some basic visitor services will reopen at Gateway National Recreation Area using revenue generated by recreation fees," the National Park Service announced in a press release. "Basic services include re-opening bathrooms, collecting garbage, picking up litter, and plowing of roads to visitor use areas."

National Park Service officials said they determined they can use Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement funds to immediately bring back park maintenance crews. Neither Trump nor congressional leaders appear close to backing down as the federal shutdown drags on.

The Sandy Hook park and peninsula is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which includes part of Jamaica Bay in Queens, and on Staten Island.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of local residents and groups who have taken it upon themselves to collect garbage and organize clean-ups at the three Gateway locations (Staten Island, Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, N.J.),” said Gateway superintendent Jen Nersesian. “Their community spirit and love for the natural, historic, and recreation areas of Gateway came through for the park.”

For updates on the shutdown, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.

Pictured: Sunset at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Photo by Catherine Perry/Patch.