Backpacking Discussions

New Jersey state parks were closed on April 1st to fix budget hole!

The list of nine New Jersey state parks that would close under Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget:

Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 2,928 acres, Monmouth County. Visitor center, restrooms, closed.

Stephens State Park, 805 acres, Warren County. Camping area closed.

High Point State Park, 15,827 acres, Sussex County. Swimming, camping, interpretive center, office, closed. Trail access limited.

Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (formerly Lebanon State Forest), 36,647 acres, Burlington County. Camping, group picnic area, Indian King Tavern, office, closed. Trail access limited.

Round Valley Recreation Area, 3,684 acres, Hunterdon County. Swimming, camping, Wallace House, office, closed.

Parvin State Park, 1,952 acres, Salem County. Swimming, camping, interpretive center, office, closed.

Jenny Jump State Forest, 4,288 acres, Warren County. Camping and office, closed. Trail access limited.

Worthington State Forest, 6,584 acres, Warren County. Camping and office, closed. Trail access limited.

Fort Mott State Park, 104 acres, Salem County. Hancock House, historic sites, office, closed. Access to ferry service, open.


The list of three New Jersey state parks that would partially close under the proposed budget:

Ringwood State Park, 4,044 acres, Bergen and Passaic counties. Shepherd Lake swimming area closed; Ringwood Manor, reduced hours. State Botanical Gardens and Skylands Manor, open.

D&R Canal State Park, 5,379 acres, central New Jersey. Bulls Island Recreation Area closed to campers. Rockingham Historic Site and towpath, open.

Washington Crossing State Park, 3,126 acres, Mercer and Hunterdon counties. Significantly reduced hours at Clark House, Johnson Ferry House and the museum.



Winter hours at all remaining parks would be reduced. All but Liberty and Island Beach state parks would be closed Mondays and Tuesdays from Nov. 1 through March 31.

I saw that in the Star Ledger. Apart from being absolutely livid, I doubt this will happen as proposed. Considering all the referenda that have passed by wide margins in the last few years, this is a slap in the face of NJ taxpayers who have annually voted to pay more taxes to support open space preservation and the like.

Corzine is the total moron. He'll threaten to close parks which bring in way more than they cost to run. He'll threaten to release violent prisoner's back to the streets. He'll do away with the Dept. Of Agriculture which accounts for 20% of the states lands. All this but the jackass won't cut back on one limo, car, no-show job, pension or anything that effects the real cost of government in New Jersey. If anyone votes for this jerk again they should be thrown out of the state with him. Please seek out and sign a recall petition.