Park Commission COVID-19 Updates

Following the direction of Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders, the Somerset County Park Commission (SCPC) has implemented updates to make the use of its park and golf courses more convenient while continuing to adhere to social distancing parameters to protect patrons and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Park Commission’s Golf Management Division has introduced the “Golf Call Center” to facilitate registering for a county card, reserving tee times, and paying greens fees. Golfers calling 908-722-1200, ext. 4357 (HELP) Monday through Friday between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. can use their county card number to reserve a tee time up to seven days in advance, reserve a golf cart at any of the four original courses (carts are included in greens fees at Neshanic Valley and, currently, the Academy Course is walk only), and pay greens fees with a credit card or SCPC golf gift card.

Additionally, as of Friday, May 22, 2020, all courses will be available for golf play to foursomes. The booking system is currently accepting these reservations. Driving ranges are now open to the public at all courses except Warrenbrook and Green Knoll.  Only Neshanic Valley Learning Center season pass holders may use the lower driving range at the Neshanic Valley complex, and the upper range may be used by anyone.  Tokens for range balls can only be purchased at the Learning Center.  Practice putting greens remain closed at all county golf locations to ensure proper social distancing. 

As per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 133, all county golf center buildings, golf pro shops, and all other amenities remain closed to the public. As restroom facilities are located in these buildings, portable toilets will be available at all locations starting this Friday, May 22^nd.  The hours of operation for portable toilets, however, will be limited and golfers should plan accordingly.  Due to required frequent sanitization and routine cleaning and disinfecting, portable toilets will be accessible from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Park Commission staff, golfers, and all other individuals must wear cloth face coverings in all settings on the golf course where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Somerset County courses include: Green Knoll on Garretson Road in Bridgewater, Spooky Brook off Elizabeth Avenue in Somerset; Quail Brook on New Brunswick Road in Somerset; Warrenbrook on Warrenville Road in Warren; and Neshanic Valley and the Learning Center Academy Course on South Branch Road in Neshanic Station.

As for the Commission’s parks, the public restroom facilities will remain closed at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater and Colonial Park in Somerset.  However, portable toilets with limited accessibility will be available at Duke Island and Colonial Parks as well as Natirar Park in Peapack-Gladstone and the Sourland Mountain Preserve, in Hillsborough.  Again, due to sanitization, cleaning, and disinfecting requirements and staff limitations, portable toilets will be accessible only from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Restroom facilities and portable toilets will not be available at all other Park Commission park locations.

Washington Rock State Park, the Lord Stirling Stable, the Leonard J. Buck Garden, the Environmental Education Center (although the trails are open), and the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden remain closed to the public.  In addition, the tennis courts at Colonial Park and the Green Knoll Tennis Center remain closed.  

Updates on cancellations and openings may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Updates on Parks and Trails

The Somerset County Park Commission reminds all that the following general use parks are open for enjoyment in strict accord with all requirements set forth in Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 133:  Duke Island Park on Old York Road and North Branch Park on Milltown Road, both in Bridgewater; Colonial Park in Franklin; Natirar Park in Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone; East County Park in Warren; and Skillman Park in Montgomery.  In addition, the trail systems in Washington Valley Park in Bridgewater, the Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough and Montgomery, the Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge, and the Little Brook Sanctuary in Bernardsville will be open. Washington Roch State Park in Green Brook has been closed until further notice. 

Commencing this Saturday and—until further notice—continuing on weekends and holidays thereafter, the entire length of Colonial Drive (the roadway running through Colonial Park) will be closed to vehicular traffic.  Visitors driving to Colonial Park will be able to access available parking only from a single entry point off of Elizabeth Avenue.  This entry point is the Howe Athletic Complex driveway.  Parking for Colonial Park will only take place at the Howe Athletic Complex parking lot.  With this new traffic configuration, visitors may utilize Colonial Drive for walking while practicing social distancing.

Somerset County Sheriff’s Officers will be controlling access to parking lots at many of the aforementioned locations.  Park patrons must understand that, pursuant to Governor Murphy’s direction, parking is limited to 50% of the maximum parking capacity at one time.  Accordingly, there has been, and there will continue to be, a need to close access to parks once they reach this restricted parking capacity.  Access will be re-opened once a sufficient number of vehicles have left the park.  The Park Commission requests and appreciates the patience, understanding, and cooperation of its park patrons regarding access closures.  Visitors are prohibited from parking in undesignated areas, including roadways.  The Commission must but to comply with the Governor’s requirements and it welcomes the collaborative compliance of all park patrons. 

In compliance with Executive Order 133, the following requirements will be implemented at all Park Commission general use parks and trail systems:

·       FACE COVERINGS: should be worn when and where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age.

·       PARKING: will be limited to 50% of the maximum capacity at one time, and visitors shall be prohibited from parking in undesignated areas, including in roadways.

·       PICNICKING: is prohibited.  The use of charcoal grills in picnic groves is not allowed.  Picnic blankets, chairs, coolers, and other such personal property are not allowed in parks.     

·       SOCIAL DISTANCING: must be practiced at all times.  Visitors are to stay six feet apart whenever practicable, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners. 

·       ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS: shall not be allowed. 

·       GATHERINGS: in parks or on trails are prohibited. 

As a reminder, restroom facilities, picnic areas (including charcoal grills), pavilions, playgrounds, exercise stations, and all buildings including, but not limited to, visitor centers and educational/interpretive centers will remain closed to the public.  Park patrons must take note of the fact that park benches and tables are not disinfected on a regular basis.  Accordingly, they should not be utilized in any manner. 

The leash-free dog areas located in Colonial Park, East County Park, and Skillman Park will also remain closed until further notice.  Further, the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden at Colonial Park and the Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills will remain closed.  Classes, lessons, and programs at all Park Commission facilities remain suspended indefinitely.  All of the Commission’s baseball, basketball, softball, cricket, and soccer fields, the tennis courts at the Green Knoll Tennis Center and Colonial Park, and the roller hockey rink at the North Branch Greenway Park in Bridgewater remain closed. 

The safety and welfare of the Park Commission’s employees and park patrons are of paramount importance. If Commission staff witness non-compliance with the Governor’s Executive Orders or with the Commission’s practices and policies, the Commission will have no choice but to close its facilities.  Moreover, the Governor, himself, has said that if these rules are not followed, he will reverse the Executive Order and close parks and golf courses again.  For these reasons, the Park Commission implores everyone to comply with all mandates and—most importantly—practice patience and politeness.

                                                                                                       

Updates on programs and activities may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.

Washington Rock State Park Closed Temporarily

The Somerset County Park Commission has announced that Washington Rock State Park on Washington Avenue in Green Brook, NJ will be closed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the need to assure that park patrons follow the social distancing rules set forth by Governor Phil Murphy and to protect the health and welfare of visitors and employees, the decision was made to close the facility based on its small size and location.

While Washington Rock is a state park, it is maintained by the Somerset County Park Commission through an agreement with the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry.  The decision to temporarily close has been made in concert with state park officials. 

The Park Commission’s five golf courses opened on Saturday, May 2 and will continue to operate with certain restrictions.

General use parks including Duke Island Park on Old York Road and North Branch Park on Milltown Road, both in Bridgewater; Colonial Park in Franklin; Natirar Park in Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone; East County Park in Warren; and Skillman Park in Montgomery are open. 

In addition, the trail systems in Washington Valley Park in Bridgewater, the Sourland Mountain Preserve in Hillsborough and Montgomery, the Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge, and the Little Brook Sanctuary in Bernardsville are open. However, restroom facilities, picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds, exercise stations, and all buildings including, but not limited to, visitor centers and educational/interpretive centers will remain closed to the public as per the Governor’s Executive Orders.

Updates on cancellations and openings may be found at www.somersetcountyparks.org or by calling 908-722-1200.