More Parks Closed In Westfield, Cranford, Summit

WESTFIELD, NJ — Because too many New Jersey residents have been heading to parks amid the spread of coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday that all state and county parks would close. The list of parks that will close in Union County numbers more than two dozen, including parks in Westfield, Cranford, and Summit. Click here to see the full list of affected parks.

Mayors and schools superintendents in the three towns have also made individual announcements about municipal parks and athletic fields, like this recent announcement in Westfield and this one last month about the Memorial Field Complex in Cranford. In addition, on Tuesday night, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said she would close municipal parks in that town as of Wednesday.

Brindle said in an update, "I am concerned that the closure of the county parks will result in further crowding of our own, making it extremely difficult to maintain and enforce appropriate social distancing."

She added, "Additionally, we are entering what will be, by all expert accounts, an extremely difficult few weeks in New Jersey with respect to the incremental increase in COVID-19 cases. As we prepare for the peak of this virus in the coming weeks, we will continue to prioritize public health and undertake all measures we can to save lives and flatten the curve."

She noted, "As a resident, a neighbor, and a parent, I am disappointed in having to make this hard yet necessary decision, especially during spring break week. But as mayor, my guiding principles in making any decision are those rooted in science, facts, and priorities that serve the well-being of the community."

She quoted Dr. Amy Acton, the Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health, as saying, "On the front end of a pandemic, you look a little bit like an alarmist...And on the back end of a pandemic, you didn’t do enough.” Brindle added, "Of the two options, I’ll gladly take the first to navigate our community through this crisis."

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Union County had 95 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. In New Jersey, the number of cases has risen to 44,416, and 1,232 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Here are some statewide resources:

The mayor listed these COVID-19 resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

Got news in your town? Email caren.lissner@patch.com