Montclair Reopening Parks After Gov. Murphy Gives Go-Ahead

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair will be reopening its township parks with some restrictions after a go-ahead from Gov. Phil Murphy, officials announced Thursday.

On Wednesday, Murphy signed an executive order that allows for “passive recreation” such as running, hiking and biking in state and county parks, beginning at sunrise on Saturday, May 2. Now, counties and municipalities will be able to decide for themselves whether to keep local parks open or closed amid the coronavirus crisis. (Read the full order here)

Local officials will still have to abide by the state order, which stipulates that:

• Parking is limited to 50 percent of maximum capacity
• Picnics are banned
• Social distancing must be practiced, except with immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners
• Organized or “contact” activities/sports and gatherings of any kind are banned

The order strongly recommends – but doesn’t require – that people wear a cloth face covering at the parks and forests where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

On Thursday, Montclair officials confirmed the township will be reopening its own municipal parks in line with Murphy’s order.

Acting Township Manager Timothy Stafford released the following message:

Consistent with Governor Murphy's Executive Order 133(2020) reopening state parks and forests to the public, effective Saturday, May 2, 2020, at 6 a.m. for certain passive recreational activities subject to safeguards and restrictions, I hereby reopen parks and recreational areas owned by the Township of Montclair, with the limitations and regulations set forth below:

1. Only the following passive recreation activities in which social distancing can be readily achieved are permitted:

• Hiking;
• Walking;
• Running or jogging;
• Biking;
• Birding

2. The following shall remain closed to the public:

• Picnic areas;
• Playgrounds;
• Exercise stations and equipment;
• Restrooms;
• Other buildings and facilities, such as the Edgemont Park House;
• Tennis Courts, including skateboarding; and
• Basketball Courts.

3. The following recommendations and policies shall apply to all parks and recreation areas:

a. Employees and visitors should wear cloth face coverings while in the park or recreation area in all settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, except where doing so would inhibit that individual's health or where the individual is under two years of age; b. Available parking must be limited to 50% of the maximum capacity at one time, and visitors shall be prohibited from parking in undesignated areas, including in roadways and other undesignated areas; c. No picnicking shall be allowed, including on picnic blankets in signed picnic areas, and no picnic blankets, chairs, coolers, and other such personal property shall be carried into any parks or recreation areas; d. Consistent with Paragraph 3 of Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 107 (2020), visitors must practice social distancing and stay six feet apart whenever practicable, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners; e. No organized or contact activities or sports shall be allowed; and f. Consistent with Paragraph 5 of Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 107 (2020), gatherings of individuals, including in parks, are prohibited.

4. Consistent with Paragraph 11 of Governor Murphy's Executive Order No. 133 (2020), it shall be the duty of every person or entity in the Township of Montclair or doing business in the Township of Montclair to cooperate fully in all matters concerning this Order and to cooperate fully with Administrative Orders issued pursuant to this Order.

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