TOMS RIVER, NJ – Shortly after Governor Phil Murphy recognized that the closure of parks during the COVID-19 pandemic could open a pandora’s box of alternative mental and physical health issues, Ocean County’s park czar, Ginny Haines, 75, decided to follow Murphy’s lead. Haines closed Ocean County’s parks in March after she received reports of Orthodox Jews congregating in a Brick Township park. Ocean County was among the first government agencies to shut down parks during the 2020 COVID-19 virus season.
Days later, she closed all the parks, setting a trend across the state of New Jersey. On Wednesday, Haines said she’s going to reopen the parks she closed.
Here’s what Haines decided to open for now:
Ocean County Park, Lakewood
Lake Shenandoah County Park, Lakewood
Atlantis Golf Course, Little Egg Harbor
Forge Pond Golf Course, Brick
Barnegat Branch Trail, Ocean County
Wells Mills County Park, Waretown
John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park, Berkeley
Jakes Branch County Park, Beachwood
Patriot’s Park, Jackson * recently added.