Emergency Closures At 4 South Jersey Parks Due To 'Illegal' Use

NEW JERSEY — Portions of four South Jersey state parks will be closed locally due to what the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife on Thursday called “unprecedented unauthorized use.”

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has closed six targeted locations within Wildlife Management Areas that attract large gatherings and include former quarry pits at which swimming is prohibited and extremely dangerous due to the depth and low temperature of the water which can threaten life and safety.

Swimming is only authorized in New Jersey State Parks at lifeguarded beaches.

The targeted closures are within Greenwood Forest in Ocean County; the Winslow Wildlife Management Area; Cedar Lake in Monroe Township, Gloucester County; and Menantico Ponds in Millville, Cumberland County. Those taegeted areas are being closed to the public through Sept. 15, the division announced in a statement on social media.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase in illegal off-road vehicle use in the Wildlife Management Areas across the state, the division told Patch.

There has also been an increase in trash, the destruction of native vegetation, and the slogan “MAGA” spraypainted on the cliffs in the Wildcat Ridge Wildcat Management Area in North Jersey. Read more here: ‘MAGA’ Graffiti At NJ Park Can’t Be Safely Removed, State Says

The emergency closings impact all Division of Fish and Wildlife property in the following areas:

Cedar Lake (Monroe Twp., Gloucester Co.)

That portion of Cedar Lake commonly referred to as the Sand Plant: All division property within the boundary beginning at the intersection of Jackson Rd. and W. Piney Hollow Rd.; north on W. Piney Hollow Rd. to Rt. 322; east on Rt. 322 to Cains Mill Rd.; south on Cains Mill Rd. to Malaga Rd.; south on Malaga Rd. to E. Reading Ave.; south on E. Reading Ave. to Lake Ave.; south on Lake Ave. to Jackson Rd.; west on Jackson Rd. to the starting point at W. Piney Hollow Rd.

Greenwood Forest (Ocean Co., two separate areas)

A posted area commonly referred to as Parkers Pit within Greenwood Forest: All division property within the area beginning at the intersection of Rt. 539 and Bryant Rd. and following Bryant Rd. to its intersection with Jones Rd.; along Jones Rd. to its intersection with Cooks Rd.; along Cooks Rd. to its intersection with Rt. 539; along Rt. 539 to the starting point at Bryant Rd.

A posted area commonly referred to as the Clay Holes within Greenwood Forest:

All division property within the following roads and boundaries beginning at the intersection of Lauries Rd. and Woodmansie Rd.; traveling southeast on Woodmansie Rd. to the intersection of Clay Mine Rd.; North on Clay Mine Rd. to its intersection with Bloody Ridge Rd.; West on Bloody Ridge Rd. to the boundary of Greenwood WMA and Woodland Sand Company; follow boundary of Greenwood WMA and Woodland Sand Company to intersection with Lauries Rd.; follow Lauries Rd. to the starting point at Woodmansie Rd.

Menantico Ponds WMA (Millville, Cumberland Co.)

All properties owned by the division identified as the Menantico Ponds WMA and the access road into the area from Route 49.

Winslow (Winslow, Camden Co.)

That portion of Winslow commonly referred to as Winslow East or the Hot Mix section: All division property within the boundary beginning at the intersection of Rt. 322 and Piney Hollow Rd.; north along Piney Hollow Rd. to its intersection with Folsom Rd. (Rt. 73); southeast on Folsom Rd. to its intersection with the Camden-Gloucester County boundary; south along the Camden-Gloucester County boundary to its intersection with Rt. 322; west along Rt. 322 to the starting point at the intersection with Piney Hollow Rd.

Parts of Wildcat Ridge in Morris County are also closed. Anyone who enters any of these areas during the emergency closure will be fined between $50 and $1,500. Maps of the areas can be found on the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife website.