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.

Parks to Re-open

In accordance with Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order No. 133, the Somerset County Park Commission has announced the re-opening of its general use parks, trails, and golf courses in Somerset County on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at sunrise.


Restrictions included in the Governor’s Order will be imposed at all Commission facilities, and will be enforced by Park Commission staff, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, and local police.  The Governor has made it clear that non-compliance with these restrictions and general social distancing measures will be met with an order requiring the closure of parks and golf courses.  The Commission requests the cooperation of all park patrons and golfers in complying with these mandates so as to limit the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and allow Commission facilities to remain open.

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


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.


In compliance with the Governor’s most recent order, the following requirements will be implemented at its general use parks and trail systems:

·      Employees and visitors must wear cloth face coverings 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 50% of the maximum capacity at one time, and

visitors shall be prohibited from parking in undesignated areas, including

in roadways. At 50% of parking capacity, parking areas will be closed. We thank patrons for their patience and compliance;

·      Picnicking, of any nature, shall be prohibited.  This prohibition includes a ban on picnic blankets, chairs, coolers, and other such personal property;  



·      Visitors must practice social distancing and stay six feet apart whenever practicable, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners;



·      Organized or contact activities or sports shall not be allowed; and



·      Gatherings of individuals in park or on trails are prohibited.

Golf courses including Neshanic Valley in Neshanic Station, Green Knoll in Bridgewater, Quail Brook and Spooky Brook in Somerset, and Warrenbrook in Warren Township will be open starting on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 7:00 a.m.


Like park facilities, Commission golf courses will have a number of requirements and restrictions. The particulars of those requirements and restrictions are consistent with the requirements set forth in Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 133.  The Park Commission has adopted a Policy on COVID-19 Mitigation Practices and Procedures which can be found on the Park Commission website at www.somersetcountyparks.org.


Individuals desiring to golf at Park Commission courses should review that policy, understand its content, and be prepared to comply with all requirements and restrictions.

The welfare of the Park Commission’s employees, park patrons, and golfers is of paramount importance to the Commission. If Commission staff in its parks and trails or at its golf courses witness non-compliance with the Governor’s Executive Orders or 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.


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

Amazon Shopping to Benefit Park Foundation

The Somerset County Park Foundation would like to remind park patrons and supporters that all purchases through www.smile.amazon.com will result in a contribution of 0.5% of the purchase price to the Somerset County Park Foundation.

The Foundation has registered with AmazonSmile, a simple and automatic way for financial support with every Amazon purchase. AmazonSmile offers tens of millions of products eligible for the donation, virtually everything available on the standard amazon.com website.

Anyone with an Amazon account can register on AmazonSmile and select the Somerset County Park Foundation as the charitable organization. The Amazon Smile Foundation will then donate 0.5% of every purchase price to the Foundation. As everyone continues to practice social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, Amazon purchases will provide a much needed contribution to the Therapeutic Recreation department and other Foundation activities.

The Somerset County Park Foundation is a 501c(3) created to preserve, support, and promote Somerset County Park Commission programs, facilities, and open space, through advocacy and fund raising. The Foundation is managed by a 15-member Board of Trustees including one member from the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Funds are used to sponsor, underwrite, support, and promote park activities, expansion of programs, improvement of facilities, and capital expenditures to enhance access to active and passive recreation opportunities.

For information on the Park Foundation, visit www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-722-1200.

NVGC Meadow #7 Included in NY Post Top 18 Golf Holes

Somerset County Park Commission Neshanic Valley Golf Course (NVGC), located at 2301 South Branch Road in Neshanic Station, New Jersey, is included in the NY Post “Best 18 Holes on Public Courses in the Metro Area.”

The 18 holes were chosen by Post golf writers Brett Cyrgalis and Mark Cannizzaro. Selected as hole 13 was Meadow 7, a short dogleg left par 4 at 336 yards to a narrow green. Course architect Michael Hurzden noted when designing the course, “The magic of short par-4s is that they allow average golfers to feel like they’re pros.”

Other courses on the list include Bethpage Black on Long Island, host to major championships; Trump Ferry Point in the Bronx, New York; and Crystal Springs in Sussex County, New Jersey.

In 2017, Neshanic Valley Golf Course Meadow 9 was selected as part of the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) Dream 18, a selection of 18 holes at different courses that were played in one day by a select group of MGA golfers and broadcast by the Golf Channel.

Neshanic Valley provides a complete golfing facility with a 27-hole Championship Course (Meadow, Ridge, Lake), a 9-hole Academy Course, the Learning Center, and the Callaway Golf Performance Center and High Definition Golf™ simulator.

The state-of-the-art Learning Center includes a double-ended driving range with grass and mat hitting areas, a 12,000 square foot putting green, a practice facility including bunkers and three chipping greens, and two practice holes.

The Performance Center at Neshanic Valley offers a state-of-the-art computerized golf club fitting and swing analysis system, operated by Callaway-trained professionals.

NVGC and the Somerset County Park Commission’s additional four golf courses are currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Information on Neshanic Valley, the other four county golf courses, and additional Somerset County Park Commission activities may be found on the Internet at www.somersetcountyparks.org.

Social Distancing Deadline Extended Until April 30

In the midst of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Somerset County Park Commission reminds all that its general use parks and trail systems are open for park patrons to get out and enjoy some very special outdoor spaces.

Heeding the social distancing directive of President Trump issued on Sunday, March 29, 2020, the Park Commission is extending the closure of programs, events, and activities until April 30, 2020.

Remaining open with strict consideration given to the social distancing requirements are Natirar Park in Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone, Duke Island Park and North Branch Park in Bridgewater, East County Park in Warren, Colonial Park in Somerset, 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. 

While parks and trails are open, there is no access to bathrooms, entry onto playgrounds has been prohibited, and buildings have been closed to the public.  Moreover, in an effort to ensure compliance with NJ Governor Murphy’s directive, the Commission encourages its patrons to follow best social distancing practices while engaging in outdoor activities including but not limited to the following: 

·       Make space for others on the trails.

·       Go solo – or with immediate family only. Follow carry-in/carry-out guidelines by cleaning up after your pet and taking any trash home with you.

·       Give yourself – and others – space. Do not gather in groups of 10 or more and maintain a six-foot distance from others at all times.

·       Go before you go. As park restrooms are closed, please use the restroom before visiting a park.

·       Stay away from playground equipment and parks facilities.

·       Follow CDC and state health recommendations. Visit cdc.gov and covid19.nj.gov for the most recent recommendations to protect yourself and others from spreading COVID-19.

Barring further governmental directives prohibiting same, the Commission will endeavor to keep its parks and trail systems open so long as doing so does not facilitate non-compliance with Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders.  Should violations occur, the Commission will have no choice but to close its parks and trails.  For this reason, the

Somerset County Park Commission strongly encourages all to heed the Governor’s social distancing directives and practice them on its parks and trails. 

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

Social Distancing Urged in County Parks

In the midst of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Somerset County Park Commission reminds all that its general use parks and trail systems are open for park patrons to get out and enjoy some very special outdoor spaces.

Specifically, Natirar Park in Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone, Duke Island Park and North Branch Park in Bridgewater, East County Park in Warren, Colonial Park in Somerset, and Skillman Park in Montgomery are open.  In addition, the trail systems located 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. 

Please be advised that Natirar Park and the Sourland Mountain Preserve have been experiencing extremely heavy visitation, and thus, park patrons should strongly consider visiting other locations in order to avoid crowds and effectively engage in social distancing practices. 

Over the course of the last two weeks, the Park Commission has taken proactive measures in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.  While parks and trails are open, there is no access to bathrooms, entry onto playgrounds has been prohibited, and buildings have been closed to the public.  Moreover, in an effort to ensure compliance with Governor Murphy’s directive, the Commission encourages its patrons to follow best social distancing practices while engaging in outdoor activities including but not limited to the following: 

·       Make space for others on the trails. To protect yourself and other park visitors while on trails, visitors should warn other users of their presence when passing by. As others pass, step aside for them.

·       Go solo – or with immediate family only. Please visit parks with family members from your household or for solo activities such as dog-walking or biking. Follow carry-in/carry-out guidelines by cleaning up after your pet and taking any trash home with you.

·       Give yourself – and others – space. Do not gather in groups of 10 or more and maintain a six-foot distance from others at all times. If the recommended distance is not possible, go to another area of the park or visit the park another time.

·       Go before you go. As park restrooms are closed, please use the restroom before visiting a park. Do not attempt to open bathroom or other facility doors, which are locked.

·       Stay away from playground equipment and parks facilities. All playground equipment and all park buildings are closed to the public.

·       Follow CDC and state health recommendations. Visit cdc.gov and covid19.nj.gov for the most recent recommendations to protect yourself and others from spreading COVID-19.

Barring further governmental directives prohibiting same, the Commission will endeavor to keep its parks and trail systems open so long as doing so does not facilitate non-compliance with Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders.  Should violations occur, the Commission will have no choice but to close its parks and trails.  For this reason, the

Somerset County Park Commission strongly encourages all to heed the Governor’s social distancing directives and practice them on its parks and trails. 

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