TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced Executive Order 118, closing all state parks and forests and county parks to further social distancing measures. 

“My Administration’s top priority is to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases, so we do not create a surge within our health care systems and overwhelm the health care professionals who are managing our response on the frontlines,” said Governor Murphy. “We have seen far too many instances in our parks where people are gathering and socializing in groups and by closing these areas, we are further limiting public interactions to only the most essential purposes. Data shows that our aggressive efforts to flatten the curve are beginning to make a difference; however, we must continue our push to flatten it to the point where our day-over-day increase is zero.”

Under Executive Order No. 108 (2020), municipalities still have the authority to keep municipal parks open or closed.

The order shall take effect on Tuesday, April 7, at 8:00 p.m.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 118, click here.