TRENTON – Today, Governor Murphy announced the enactment of Executive Order 118, which closes all State and county parks as of April 7, at 8 p.m. the order reads, “All State Parks and Forests and county parks must closeto the public as long as this Order remains in effect.”

According to the order, recent instances of non-compliance have continued in the State Parks and Forests despite verbal warnings and orders to disperse gatherings, ejections from the parks, and the issuance of citations by law enforcement. And because usage of state rarks and forests, as well as county parks, is anticipated to increase during the upcoming spring holiday season and beyond, “such increased public usage is likely to encourage additional public interactions and gatherings at State Parks and Forests, as well as county parks, that are inconsistent with and threaten to undermine the State’s current social mitigation strategies.”

A full copy of Executive Order #118 can be found here.