Merill creek new hours??

[Merrill Creek Reservoir]

Since 1989, Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) has granted access to the public to enjoy its tranquil setting, natural environment, and limited low impact recreational activities. In an effort to enhance our overall site safety and security measures, MCR will implement new public recreation times, which go into effect on May 1, 2023.

• Gates Open at 7:00 AM year-round
• Gates Close at 5:30 PM from March 1 to October 31
• Gates Close at 4:30 PM from November 1 to Feb 28

The entire MCR property, including hiking trails and boat ramp, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Please park in designated parking areas only, as there is no parking permitted anywhere else at MCR, including roadside parking. Parking along roadsides and other areas at MCR is for authorized vehicles only.

MCR is a privately owned property, please help us to keep MCR safe and secure for all to enjoy by strictly following our new property visitation hours. Thank you.
Merrill Creek Reservoir

[thmyorke1]

These new hours are too limited, i was hoping new hours for mcr would eventually go the other direction, staying open later.

This new set of hours is too late in the morning to escape the larger crowds and waiting for morning, and end too shortly to get off the water in time to avoid another crowded mess.

In addition, both are cutting way too much into peak fishing hours, both around sunrise and sunset. Thanks if this can eventually be extended again, idk why it was cut, but if a staffing issue hopefully thats resolved easily and fast.

This is unfortunately a growing trend throughout the state

[Hookmanski]

Originally Posted by Merrill Creek Reservoir

Since 1989, Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) has granted access to the public to enjoy its tranquil setting, natural environment, and limited low impact recreational activities. In an effort to enhance our overall site safety and security measures, MCR will implement new public recreation times, which go into effect on May 1, 2023.

• Gates Open at 7:00 AM year-round
• Gates Close at 5:30 PM from March 1 to October 31
• Gates Close at 4:30 PM from November 1 to Feb 28

The entire MCR property, including hiking trails and boat ramp, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Please park in designated parking areas only, as there is no parking permitted anywhere else at MCR, including roadside parking. Parking along roadsides and other areas at MCR is for authorized vehicles only.

MCR is a privately owned property, please help us to keep MCR safe and secure for all to enjoy by strictly following our new property visitation hours. Thank you.
Merrill Creek Reservoir

We would much rather hear about if anything can be done to revert this change - the numbers are speaking and it's clear people in the fishing, hiking, kayaking and general outdoor communities are upset with this change. It is going to have a negative impact on the ability to enjoy the space, and cuts off peak hours for people who work all day and would like to spend the last few hours of daylight enjoying the space like they have been able to do for decades.

Would love to hear a response back on this.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Originally Posted by Merrill Creek Reservoir

Since 1989, Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) has granted access to the public to enjoy its tranquil setting, natural environment, and limited low impact recreational activities. In an effort to enhance our overall site safety and security measures, MCR will implement new public recreation times, which go into effect on May 1, 2023.

• Gates Open at 7:00 AM year-round
• Gates Close at 5:30 PM from March 1 to October 31
• Gates Close at 4:30 PM from November 1 to Feb 28

The entire MCR property, including hiking trails and boat ramp, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Please park in designated parking areas only, as there is no parking permitted anywhere else at MCR, including roadside parking. Parking along roadsides and other areas at MCR is for authorized vehicles only.

MCR is a privately owned property, please help us to keep MCR safe and secure for all to enjoy by strictly following our new property visitation hours. Thank you.
Merrill Creek Reservoir

Page created to inform us of the negative news that none of us wanted to except. These hours do not work in favor of, “We The People!” Total disappointment!

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by Merrill Creek Reservoir

Since 1989, Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) has granted access to the public to enjoy its tranquil setting, natural environment, and limited low impact recreational activities. In an effort to enhance our overall site safety and security measures, MCR will implement new public recreation times, which go into effect on May 1, 2023.

• Gates Open at 7:00 AM year-round
• Gates Close at 5:30 PM from March 1 to October 31
• Gates Close at 4:30 PM from November 1 to Feb 28

The entire MCR property, including hiking trails and boat ramp, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Please park in designated parking areas only, as there is no parking permitted anywhere else at MCR, including roadside parking. Parking along roadsides and other areas at MCR is for authorized vehicles only.

MCR is a privately owned property, please help us to keep MCR safe and secure for all to enjoy by strictly following our new property visitation hours. Thank you.
Merrill Creek Reservoir

@ Merrill Creek can you please explain the reason behind this change? I think it will help with PR

[DanH]

Security reasons ???? I was there today and saw two different groups of Police Officers on foot walking around the reservoir . Maybe it was just an exercise but I haven't seen this before . Anybody ever see this there ?

[Wilson]

I'm betting that the residents of the area complained about the added traffic, noise and garbage. Anybody that has fished there at o dark thirty and was waiting in line for the gate to open knows what I mean.
Since and during the covid19 outbreak many public and not so public spaces have been regulated more, closed or posted. The Raritan River was the scene of several pop up parties and as a result the parking areas where closed.
Anyone remember this fiasco?

https://youtu.be/Ocs-_zGUhbk

Sooner or later social media ruins everything.
Keep posting those brag pictures with the location of the catch and see what happens to your spot.

The state should take Merrill off their stocking schedule. Do you think they will

[AndyS]

The state should take Merrill off their stocking schedule. Do you think they will

I'm still trying to figure out why Newark Watershed gets stocked. Rules have been in place there for a very long time, yet no one seems to complain, why is that ?

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by DanH

Security reasons ???? I was there today and saw two different groups of Police Officers on foot walking around the reservoir . Maybe it was just an exercise but I haven't seen this before . Anybody ever see this there ?

Like in the parking lots or out on the damns?

[Mikey topaz]

Just another bad thing that the sportsman loose out on in this state.
Many other places in this state having the similar problems with limited access or roads shut down just when the hunting/fishing seasons are in prime time.

Just hope this isn’t the start of things and they start looking to do this elsewhere also.