As Gov. Phil Murphy continues to lift restrictions, he has announced that spray parks and playgrounds can reopen.
The township of North Bergen will reopen municipal parks to the public on July 2. This includes all playgrounds, sports courts, and exercise equipment located in the parks.
Spray parks will open at 25 percent capacity. Attendants will be on hand to ensure that capacity is not exceeded.
Policeman’s Park on 38th Street has undergone a complete overhaul and will reopen in July with new features. The township will open a new park on Paterson Plank Road within the next few weeks.
Parks will be open from dawn to sundown. Residents are urged to maintain social distancing for their own health and the health of others.
James Braddock Park has been open for some time.
Other reopenings coming in July
Museums, aquariums, and certain indoor entertainment venues, including bowling alleys, batting cages, shooting ranges, and the arcades along the boardwalks will open at 25 percent capacity on July 2.
Indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, and nightclubs will remain closed.
Gyms and fitness centers will remain closed, although individual training sessions are allowed by appointment.
Murphy cancelled the reopening of indoor dining indefinitely after COVID-19 spiked in other states, driven, in part, by the return of indoor dining.
The governor’s order also prohibits the consumption of food or beverages and smoking in the indoor premises of any retail, recreational, or entertainment business, including casinos, where masks are required. There is an exception for health and safety, such as as individuals briefly removing their masks to drink water.
“Unfortunately, the spike in cases in numerous other states, compounded by instances of noncompliance in New Jersey, require us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining indefinitely,” Murphy said.
“I recognize that there are many establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, but we cannot move forward unless there is complete compliance,” said. “Throughout every step of our restart, we have been clear that we would not hesitate to hit pause to safeguard public health, and this is one of those times.”
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
