'Graffiti Cliffs' In Morris County Now Closed To The Public

ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — State officials want to make Wildcat Ridge's cliffs great again. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife closed off the state park's cliffs to public access because of "unprecedented unauthorized use."

Illegal graffiti has become a prevalent issue on the wildlife management area's cliffs. After complaints about graffiti — including large "MAGA" letters — Division of Fish and Wildlife leadership said there wasn't any safe way for them to remove the graffiti.

Director David Golden said they'd seek help from the National Guard. A spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection said the agency was seeking a solution. Read more: 'MAGA' Graffiti At NJ Park Can't Be Safely Removed, State Says

The closure is partially meant to address the issue. The Division of Fish and Wildlife announced four similar closures around the state Thursday, including the Greenwood Forest, Winslow, Cedar Lake and Menantico wildlife management areas.

"People are engaging in illegal activity despite patrols," the Division of Fish and Wildlife told Patch. "The pandemic has caused an increase in illegal off-road vehicle use at the other Wildlife Management Areas."

Asked whether the graffiti played into the closure, the agency said, "yes, in addition to excessive trash and destruction of native vegetation."

Officials closed off the following area in Wildcat Ridge: "a posted area along Splitrock Reservoir (commonly referred to as the cliffs) within the Wildcat Ridge WMA, starting approximately 8/10 of a mile north of the western side of the dam at Splitrock Road along an unmarked trail that follows the shoreline terminating ¼ of a mile past the area of the cliffs."

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