NEW JERSEY — New Jersey’s state parks reopened Saturday morning for the first time since March.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed an executive order that brings the state in line with neighboring New York, where state parks are also open. Golf courses and county parks are allowed to reopen beginning Saturday as well.
Parkgoers must follow social distancing rules, and Murphy warned he will reverse the order if overcrowding occurs.
“I recognize that we all want to be outside getting fresh air,” Murphy said on Friday. “We are trusting in you to keep up with your social distancing.”
To encourage social distancing, parking at all parks and golf courses is capped at 50% capacity.
Playgrounds, pavilions, visitor centers and restrooms will remain closed. Picnics, organized activities and team sports are still banned.
More than 7,500 people have died of COVID-19 since the outbreak began in March. There were over 121,000 confirmed cases of the virus statewide, as of Friday.
