People across the Garden State are longing for that breath of fresh air, looking to break the monotony as they stay in the friendly confines of their home to aid the effort against the coronavirus.
Their wish was granted this week when Gov. Phil Murphy announced the reopening of state parks and golf courses, effective Saturday, May 2. The question many have now is – what does that mean for beaches and boardwalks?
For those who live closer to the ocean than a park or do not enjoy hitting the links, you are in luck.
A number of locations in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties are open for visitors under a wide range of conditions. Some are open to everyone, others are reserved for residents/property owners, while officials are not ready to make the call on some others.
One of the sites not yet open to the public is Sandy Hook.
Officials from Gateway National Recreation Area, the 27,000-acre urban national park stretching from New York to New Jersey, including Sandy Hook Beach, have not made a decision on when to reopen.
“At this time no decision has been made,” said Daphne Yun, a public affairs specialist for the National Park Service. “Our management started the conversation (Wednesday)."
Below is our full list of the beaches and boardwalks open or closed to the public entering the first weekend of May.
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Atlantic City: Beaches and boardwalks will remain open, according to Mayor Marty Small.
Brigantine: Some areas of the beach were declared closed April 9, including the Cove Beach recreation area, Brigantine Sea Wall and the North Beach Observation Tower, while the rest remain open for public use as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.
Longport: Walking, jogging and exercising while following social distancing guidelines is permitted, while sunbathing, sitting in chairs and congregating in groups are prohibited.
Margate City: As of April 9, beaches are open but restricted to foot traffic. Walking and running are allowed as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.
Ventnor: Beaches are set to reopen May 8, with the boardwalk expected to remain closed.
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Avalon: As of May 1, the borough of Avalon said its beaches and other public spaces remain closed due to COVID-19. However, the borough said that it plans to open its beach tag booth on 30th Street, adjacent to Surfside Park and Avalon Community Hall, starting May 9. According to the borough website, beach tags will be required to access its beaches after May 23.
City of Cape May: The city announced it will start relaxing restrictions and partially reopen beaches on May 2, allowing walking, jogging, running, fishing and surfing as long as social distancing and masks are worn when applicable. Group congregations are prohibited as well as sitting in chairs, sitting on blankets or picnicking on the beach.
Cape May Point: The borough announced on its website in March that beaches will be closed. However, Pavilion Circle will be reopened May 2 for passive recreation only, according to the website’s homepage. Games, sports, jogging and similar activities are prohibited, but folks can walk and partake in other passive activities that adhere to social distancing rules.
City of Wildwood: Walking, jogging, biking, fishing and surfing are permitted on public beaches but sunbathing, sitting in chairs, lying on blankets, organized sports and “any groups of people” are prohibited on the beach through May 7, according to the city’s website. On the boardwalk, walking, biking, sitting and gathering in groups are prohibited. The Wildwood boardwalk reopened on Friday for restaurants to offer take-out and delivery to customers, a move that could attract an influx of visitors as spring-like weather approaches. Mayor Pete Byron told CBS Philadelphia on Monday that he expects a gradual reopening in the beginning of June.
Ocean City: In an update on the city’s website Friday, Mayor Jay Gillian said no decision has been made about when the beaches and boardwalk will reopen. The mayor added the city needs to be “patient.” Beach tags, however, are now being sold by the city and the site says tags will be needed starting June 6.
Sea Isle City: Mayor Leonard Desiderio on Tuesday did not give an exact date on when businesses and the beach would reopen but stressed he wouldn't take "chances when it comes to our citizens’ health and safety." The preseason rate for beach tags has been extended by the city through June 30.
Stone Harbor: The borough’s website announced beaches are closed until May 5, but the marina is open.
Upper Township: Beaches and parks have been closed since March 27, according to a public safety message from the town.
Wildwood Crest: The borough said on Thursday it would partially lift some restrictions for its beach. Recreational activities allowed will include walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and metal detecting. The beach will remain closed for sunbathing, sitting, organized sports and any forms of social gatherings.
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Allenhurst: The beach and boardwalk are open. On March 26, officials sent a letter to residents saying, “We believe our residents are smart enough to use these areas as means of getting some fresh air without violating the rules relative to maintaining safe distance from one another."
Asbury Park: The boardwalk was closed March 27, but beaches remain open at four locations – First, Third and Sunset Avenues and Deal Lake Drive.
Avon-by-the-Sea: The beach can be accessed at East End Avenue and Washington Avenue. The boardwalk was closed March 27 and remained closed as of May 1.
Belmar: The boardwalk closed March 30, but the beach remains open for residents. There are access points at five locations.
Bradley Beach: The boardwalk closed March 30 in coordination with neighboring Avon-by-the-Sea and Belmar, Mayor Gary Engelstad wrote in a letter to residents.
Deal: The beach in Deal remains open, but is being monitored by police, according to Borough Administrator Stephen Carasia.
Long Branch: Mayor John Pallone announced the boardwalk, promenade and bike paths were closed as of April 2, but the beach remains open.
Manasquan: The beach walk and inlet walk are off limits to any type of activity until May 15, but visitors can still access the beach itself, according to Manasquan’s municipal website. Residential rental contracts are also suspended until May 15.
Monmouth Beach: Parks and beaches closed at 8 a.m. on April 8, Mayor Sue Howard announced. The decision came in response to Gov. Phil Murphy’s Executive Order No. 118, which closed all state and county parks.
Ocean Grove: The beach and boardwalk remain open, according to the latest information released by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association on April 23. The Early Bird beach badge application has been extended through May 21.
Sandy Hook: The beach will remain closed this weekend. However, parts of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which includes Sandy Hook, will reopen on May 9, following guidance from the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health officials. The Sandy Hook reopening will come with some limitations.
Sea Bright: The beach remains open, but the seawall walkway is closed, Daniel Chernavsky, Sea Bright’s Emergency Management Coordinator, wrote in a letter to residents on April 5.
Sea Girt: As of May 1, beach access is available at the following locations: The Terrace sand walkway, The Pavilion vehicle access, Brooklyn Boulevard Beach, Philadelphia Boulevard Beach and the Trenton Boulevard Beach sand ramp. All additional entrances for beach access are closed. Social distancing guidelines are in effect when using these access points. The boardwalk was closed March 26 and will remain closed to until further notice.
Spring Lake: The boardwalk was closed March 24, but residents can still access the beach at two locations: Brown Avenue and Pitney Avenue, township police announced on Facebook.
OCEAN COUNTY
Bay Head, Mantoloking and Point Pleasant Beach: The beach and boardwalk remain closed at all three locations, although a plan is being discussed to open the Maryland Avenue Beach to all Point Pleasant Beach residents and taxpayers only, the town announced Wednesday.
Brick: The township closed all beaches April 7, and they will remain closed until further notice.
Lavallette: The boardwalk and beaches were closed March 26 and will remain closed until Murphy lifts the State of Emergency, the borough once again announced on Friday.
Seaside Heights: One of the first to close its boardwalk and beaches, Seaside Heights banned visitors on March 24 on both the ocean and bay sides of the borough. However, the beach’s preseason pass discount was extended until June 30, the town announced on April 21.
Seaside Park: Beaches were closed on April 8 and will remain closed until further notice. The borough announced on April 22 that seasonal badges are still available for purchase on their website.
Toms River: Mayor Mo Hill announced last month that all beaches in the Toms River section of the barrier island are closed. The boardwalk in Ortley Beach also remains closed. Hill stated Tuesday that mayors of all towns on the northern barrier island, most of which are listed above, are working together on a plan to reopen at once so no beach in particular becomes too crowded.
LONG BEACH ISLAND
Barnegat Light: Beaches are open. Old Barney, the historical lighthouse sitting in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, remains closed. Mayor Mark Larson said last month that the beaches will close if problems with social distancing arise.
Beach Haven: Residents and homeowners with emergency placards can walk, jog or exercise their dogs on the beach, the borough announced on April 7.
Harvey Cedars: Beaches are open for residents and homeowners with placards, Mayor Jon Oldham said last month.
Long Beach Township: Full-time residents and homeowners with a placard can access beaches. Fishing and surf fishing are also permitted before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. The plan is for surfing to be permitted under those same conditions in one week.
Ship Bottom: Beaches were closed on April 7 to everyone before reopening on April 24 at 6 p.m. to property owners and residents who possess a re-entry card. Short-term rental restrictions were extended until May 15, the borough also announced on its Facebook page on April 27.
Surf City: A borough official said last month that beaches will remain open if visitors properly practice social distancing.
STATE PARKS
Island Beach State Park: The Ocean County park is open from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m., but the park’s office, Nature Center and restrooms will remain closed until further notice.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
Ryan Patti may be reached at rpatti@njadvancemedia.com and Casey Roland may be reached at croland@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.
"open" - Google News
May 02, 2020 at 12:05PM
https://ift.tt/3aW6Hvp
State parks are open but what about beaches, boardwalks? Status of each site as of May 1. - NJ.com
"open" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bYShMr
https://ift.tt/3d2SYUY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "State parks are open but what about beaches, boardwalks? Status of each site as of May 1. - NJ.com"
Post a Comment