Paddle Boating Reopens At South Mountain Complex In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Paddle boating at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex will reopen on Friday, May 22, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Procedures have been put in place to promote social distancing among visitors and sanitize all equipment, county officials said.

“With the weather getting warmer and people looking for things to do outside, we are pleased to be able to reopen paddle boating for the Memorial Day weekend,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“We ask that visitors to our park to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and respect others,” DiVincenzo said. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy our open spaces and the waterfront area while they remain safe and do their part to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”

• See related article: Essex County Reopens Parks, Golf Courses With Some Restrictions

Hours of operation for the paddle boats during Memorial Day weekend will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 22, Saturday, May 23, Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25. Beginning on Tuesday, May 26, the paddle boats will be open daily (weather permitting) from noon to 6 p.m.

County officials stated:

“In collaboration with the County Health Officer, the following guidelines were established: All visitors to the park, including those going for a ride on the paddle boats, must wear face coverings. Visitors are asked to maintain social distancing while they are waiting on line to purchase their tickets. To further promote social distancing, people riding the boat together must be from the same household. Paddle boat launching will be on a timed basis with a reduced capacity to allow for social distancing on the docks, People in boats are asked to maintain a safe distance from other boats in the water. After each boat ride, the boats and life jackets will be sanitized.”

Admission prices are $17 for a two-person boat and $21 for a four-person boat. For residents of Orange, prices are $9 for a two-person boat and $11 for a four-person boat.

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