Secaucus Town Pool WILL Open, Will Be Free For Secaucus Residents

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli vowed the town pool and summer camps will reopen this summer, but did not give any specific opening dates, saying he is awaiting the green light from the governor's office. He also had some dramatic news: The town pool complex will be completely free this summer, for Secaucus residents only.

"It will be open in a limited capacity and free for residents only. Free, free, free," said Gonnelli. "People have to get used to not bringing guests."

Gonnelli said Secaucus made the decision to make the town pool free because "It's been a mess of a year. It would have been open already by now. And there will be limits on how many people can go in. If we get filled to capacity too quickly, we will close. So people have to be understanding."

He said limits have not been set on how many people will be allowed in.

"Maybe it will only be 125 people at a time, something like that," he said. "We haven't determined that yet."

Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday he "has a high degree of confidence" day cares and summer camps can reopen. Again, no specific dates were given for either.

Gonnelli said Secaucus summer camps are "ready to go" and he is just waiting on the official OK from the governor as to when they can start.

"We're all set to go with summer camps," said the mayor. "We're going use Mill Creek and the middle school (camp is usually held at Clarendon elementary) because they offer more space. Everything is worked out on the town's end; we're just waiting for the governor to do it. I think he's going to say it soon."

Just out Wednesday: 'High Degree Of Confidence' NJ Summer Camps, Daycare Will Open, Murphy Says

573 coronavirus cases in Secaucus, 25 deaths

Secaucus, a town of about 20,000 residents, has had 573 confirmed COVID cases total and 25 deaths.

"Cases are leveling off, but there are still new cases occurring," the mayor said. "Cases are still out there. But no, they're not drastic like they were in the beginning."

Of the 25 deaths, most lived in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, but "My neighbor died of COVID and he was in his 50s," said Gonnelli. "So most of the deaths were people up in age, but not all."

Harmon Cove bar opens, for take-out drinks only

And the bar at the Harmon Cove condo community announced they will reopen for business Wednesday night. Secaucus town administrator Gary Jeffas said this is no different than other bars that are allowed to serve mixed drinks to go. The Harmon Cove bar is indoors, but there is outdoor seating. You have to wear a mask to order at the bar and bring your drink outside. Only one person is allowed inside to order at a time.

"As explained to us, the bar is not 'open' for service. You can order a drink, which is given to the person outside and they can sit at a table socially distancing," explained Jeffas. "The bar and interior is not open. The only thing open is the restroom."

A bartender who picked up the phone at Plank Road Inn said his bar serves the same: Drinks to go and nobody is allowed inside.

If all goes well, the Harmon Cove bar will open again Friday evening at 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. No food will be served.

Gonnelli released a "heartfelt" video addressed to the town on Wednesday, in which he said "coronavirus hit us really, really hard. It's a worldwide issue. But we got slammed."

He also pleaded for people to continue to wear masks and social distance.

"If everyone just continues to do what's right and do what the governor says, hopefully we'll get through this together."