In an effort to save space on its ocean beaches this summer, officials in Brick have decided to ban tents and canopies.
The council passed a resolution at its March 25 meeting approving the change, Brick Township Business Administrator Joanne Bergin told NJ Advance Media.
“The Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment project will not be completed this summer and does not have an anticipated start date,” Bergin said. “Therefore, with limited space on the beach, the Township’s Recreation Committee requested this resolution to ensure all beach goers have the ability to enjoy the beach with less intrusion from canopies and tents.”
Work to add sand to Brick and Toms River’s beaches, which have been ravaged by recent storms,was put on hold last summer while the Federal Army Corps of Engineers tried to resolve a bid protest over the award of the project’s construction contracts.
Steve Rochette, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District, told NJ Advance Media last month that no contract had been awarded to the Brick beach replenishment project.
However, he said he expected the contract, which includes replenishment in various erosion-impacted areas from the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet, to be awarded n May. In addition, contract awards for projects in Absecon Island and Long Beach Island are expected this spring and summer.
”We do hope to award all three this Spring/Summer with start dates unknown (likely late summer or fall),” Rochette said at the time.
As of Wednesday, there were no updates on the contract related to the project that will include Brick.
Brick also owns Windward Beach, located on the Metedeconk River, but the new rule will not apply there as beach replenishment is not necessary at that location, Bergin said.
The new tent/canopy rule will be in effect from Memorial Day through Labor Day and the only exception is “devices designed and used to shade infants and small children, also known as ‘baby tents,’ no larger than forty inches high by forty inches wide by forty inches deep,” according to the resolution.
Reporter Steven Rodas contributed to this report.
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
