FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2020

Close State Parks in Rockland

New City, NY, - County Executive Ed Day wrote to Governor Andrew Cuomo requesting the closure of all State Parks within Rockland. The Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources closed all County Parks, effective 6:00 AM, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. New Jersey has also closed all State Parks and Forests to the public.

Please see the full text of the letter below (also attached):

Dear Governor Cuomo,

As you know, Rockland County has taken significant steps to slow the spread of COVID-19. Among those was our decision early last week to close all County parks in order to protect the public's health and safety. Since that time, all Rockland County park facilities, including trails, parking lots, boat ramps, restrooms, offices and playgrounds have been closed, and barricades have been placed at entrances and trailheads to ensure compliance.

As you also know, Rockland County is home to several State parks, which, unfortunately, remain open. This flies in the face of reason and is creating situations that put us at risk of further spreading COVID-19. I am asking that you please immediately order State parks in Rockland County closed at this time. I would further request that the NYS Park Police step up patrols of the State parks in Rockland County to ensure compliance with the closures. Given the circumstances, it would make sense to close state parks throughout the state as well, or – at minimum – throughout the downstate region.

Last week, NJ Governor Phil Murphy took the responsible step to close State and County parks in New Jersey. The resulting action, unfortunately, has been that residents of New Jersey are flocking to the multiple state parks here in Rockland County. This influx of people is in addition to the high number of regional visitors these parks already see this time of year, with day trippers from New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut commonplace.

You have stressed the importance of coordinating efforts with other states, including during your joint press conference today with the governors from the states surrounding New York. It makes little sense for New Jersey State parks to be closed, but for New York's to remain open.

This past weekend, I received several complaints from residents, advising that many of the State parks here in Rockland County were overrun with people, parking lots were so full that cars were parking along the roadways and large groups of people were gathering. As a result, social distancing was not being practiced. This puts us all at risk.

I appreciate your consideration of this important matter and would request your immediate action to further protect the health and safety of New Yorkers.

Sincerely,

Edwin J. Day
Rockland County Executive

C: Joshua Laird, Executive Director
Palisades Interstate Park Commission

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