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Bill Would Keep NJ Parks And Beaches Open If Budget Stalemate Forces Goverment Shutdown

Island Beach State Park entrance

A bill advancing in the New Jersey Senate would require that state parks, recreation areas and historic sites remain open to the public for 7 days if a stalemate over enacting a state budget results in a government shutdown.

Drew Tompkins with the Keep It Green Coalition says those public places should not be held hostage to budget negotiations.

“This legislation provides a safeguard against future circumstances similar to what happened last year during the government shutdown when New Jersey citizens were denied access to state parks and beaches, that their own tax dollars support, during one of the busiest weekends of the year, the 4th of July holiday.”

Jamie Zaccaria with the New Jersey Sierra Club says that would prevent visitors from being turned away after making holiday plans.

“Our parks and our beaches are our pride. They’re some of the most used in the entire country. So we need to prove that. You can’t close Liberty State Park on the day where we celebrate the liberty of our country.”

Seth Hahn with the Communications Workers of America opposes the legislation.

“It makes it more likely that a state government shutdown will occur and last a lot longer if it does.”

Senator Dick Codey agrees. He says negative consequences for not enacting a budget on time could be an incentive for reaching an agreement by the June 30th deadline.

“Last year if we hadn’t had the thing with Mr. Christie on the beach maybe we wouldn’t have passed it for a couple more weeks.”

Similar legislation to keep parks and beaches open was passed by the Assembly last year, but the Senate didn’t vote on it.