Montclair has opened its municipal pools to nonresidents to comply with a legal requirement tied to state Green Acres funding, just as sizzling summer temperatures arrive.
The state Green Acres program requires the nonresident fee option. In a June 6, 2025, letter, a state Department of Environmental Protection compliance officer notified the township that restricting access to residents violated Green Acres requirements.
“All funded parkland must be open with reasonable access afforded to all New Jersey residents,” Compliance Officer Adam Page wrote in the letter to the township. “Reviewing previous post-inspection letters, it appears the ‘residents only’ edict is a relatively new development as it wasn’t previously noted.”
New for Season
Page last year told town officials the request to expand access was timely due to the “current season,” and he requested background on the town’s decision to restrict the state-funded pools to residents only. This season, the town announced nonresident access is “new” for 2026.
As of Thursday afternoon, the state DEP’s press office did not answer a series of questions sent Wednesday. Township officials also did not answer Montclair Local’s questions asking about the timing of the Green Acres designations and the pool access issues…