West Orange Shuts Down Basketball League Over COVID Concerns

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Town officials in West Orange have pulled the plug on a popular basketball league that temporarily found a home at O’Connor Park over worries that the games might spread the coronavirus.

Over the past weeks, the league – which has been picking up hundreds of likes on its Instagram posts – has been playing games on the courts of O’Connor Park. Large groups of spectators have been seen at the park, with many people not wearing face masks or social distancing.

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League organizers have been enthusiastic about the popularity of the games in West Orange, which they claimed had support from authorities in the township.

Organizers have asked people to wear face masks when they attend the games.

“Huge shout out to the West Orange police for letting us run this nonprofit organization,” the league stated last week in an Instagram post, which included a photo of a police officer in uniform standing alongside the crowd. “We don’t get offered much where we’re from, and they let us rock out!”

But according to West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi, the tournament never had official approval from the town.

On Friday, Parisi announced that due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the town will not allow the games to continue. He offered more details about the decision in a social media post.

According to Parisi:

“The basketball tournament that found its way to O’Connor Park over the last week or so is not a township approved or organized event. But all parks are for all the public to enjoy so before harshly shutting them down over legitimate health concerns raised by neighbors or via social media, we thought it best to investigate, communicate with the organizers, looking for ways we could be accommodating and attempt to work with them to ensure health standards and in meeting the guidelines for outdoor gatherings.

“We were finally able to make contact with one of the organizers on Wednesday afternoon and carefully and clearly outlined the concerns and the parameters needed to be met for continuing to have the games in the park. The organizers provided sufficient communication to participants and spectators in advance of the games and were genuinely accommodating to the township’s concerns.

“The township organized OEM and EMS staffing and was present for Thursday evening’s game. We handed out masks, offered assistance, and provided general COVID-19 safety guidance.

“However, based on the size of the crowd, and despite the best efforts of all involved, it is clear these games cannot meet the current guidelines for outdoor gatherings outlined by the state of New Jersey. The crowd grew well in excess of the current number of people permitted in outdoor gatherings and the very nature of the event, watching games on one court, have this large crowd tightly gathered together with little or no social distancing and most spectators, despite being provided with masks, chose not to wear them.

“The township will not allow these games to continue and have advised the organizers that they will need to make other arrangements.

“I recognize the frustration that grew from these games, but we have an obligation to have a first-hand and thorough understanding of circumstances before making decisions. Communicating with organizers and having proper staff on hand allowed us to have the necessary information and facts in finalizing the decision believed to be in the best interest of the community and in the best interest of public safety. Thank you for your patience.”

COVID-19 has hit West Orange hard, municipal officials say. As of Monday, 173 West Orange residents have died from complications related to the virus. There have been 1,392 confirmed cases in the township, with 5,414 negative test results.

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