Rockland To Reopen Most Parks

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County Parks, with one exception, slated to reopen. County Executive Ed Day said all parks, except for H. Pierson Mapes Flat Rock Park in Hillburn, will open at 6 a.m. Friday, May 1.

County officials said parks will be open for walking only. Social Distancding and walking directional signs will be posted throughout the parks.

Amenities and facilities such as restrooms, playgrounds, pavilions, picnic tables, all lawn areas, park benches, fishing piers and dog runs will not be open or public use and will remain closed.

Parking will only be permitted in designated parking lots and reductions in the number of parking spaces will be instituted in some parks, officials said. Side street parking will also be restricted.

Wearing a mask or face covering is recommended for those who visit the parks.

Day said the parks were closed three weeks ago to get through what public health experts were calling a critical time to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus.

"Thankfully we have seen steadily declining hospitalizations due to this disease but we want to take a thoughtful and unified approach to any reopening actions," he said.

Day said he and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco had been working toward a regional approach to the parks reopening.

"County Executive Tedesco and I are urging our respective residents to patronize the parks only within their home county," he said. "The use of county parks is intended for county residents only."

Also, Day said, after discussions with the county's supervisors and mayors, some but not all town and village parks which were not already open could be opening this weekend.

"If we give people more options, there will be more room for everyone to spread out and enjoy the outdoors while still practicing proper social distancing," Day said.

The Division of Environmental Resources will not accept any new park permit requests for the foreseeable future, officials said. Park updates can be found the county's social media pages or this website.

Division staff will monitor the parks and report any violations of social distancing or gatherings to the Rockland County Sheriff's Office. Park openings will be re-evaluated if the public fails to adhere to proper social distancing guidelines.

Like Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.