Jersey Shore towns continue to battle with Mother Nature in real time.
Following in the footsteps of Brick, North Wildwood will look to ban tents, canopies and cabanas on its shore this summer — but not because they obstruct other beachgoers’ views or could be a danger if they take off in the wind.
There’s just no room for them.
At high tide, at least 10 blocks of a 36-block-long beach in the city are gone and erosion has taken bites out of other sections.
An ordinance, which will amend city code that is over 70 years old, is set for a second reading May 7. If passed, North Wildwood would ban the use of tents, tarps, cabanas, pavilions, canopies, “sport-brellas” and similar devices unless on a list of exceptions.
In an update Thursday afternoon, city officials said at this time the restrictions would only be temporary for the 2024 season and are slated to go into effect beginning May 15.
North Wildwood has been unable to truck sand over from Wildwood for about two years, given the state of erosion-impacted beaches in the neighboring city, according to local officials. Another solution — a federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project — has been moving ahead slowly for the past ten years as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection seeks the right of access to begin construction. That replenishment may not start until 2025.
Therefore, North Wildwood expects for the first time to restrict what beachgoers can set up on what’s left of its shore.
“This unfortunate temporary restriction was made necessary due to the severe lack of dry beach space in North Wildwood,” Mayor Patrick Rosenello told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. “This is nearly identical to the restrictions that currently exist in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. If we see significant beach accretion that results in more recreational beach space we will revisit this issue.”
North Wildwood noted that tents, canopies and cabanas will be allowed for special events approved by the city council.
However, these beach fixtures will mostly be barred because — according to the ordinance — “the beaches of the city of North Wildwood have been severely eroded during recent years and in numerous areas there is virtually no beach at high tide, leaving little to no room for visitors.”
Brick officials have also recently advanced restrictions — saying it will be important for visitors to enjoy the beach with less intrusion from canopies and tents.
North Wildwood’s ordinance, if passed in May, would only allow:
- Umbrellas with a circular shade no greater than 8′ in diameter and a pole not longer than 7′6″ in height
- Baby tents no greater than 36″ in height, width and length, used to shade small children and infants
Officials at the Jersey Shore town also highlighted that no one can locate an umbrella or baby tent somewhere that obscures the lifeguard’s view or impedes their path to the ocean from the lifeguard stand.
“Umbrellas, baby tents and other personal items or equipment shall be removed from the beach by 9 p.m.,” according to an excerpt from the ordinance draft provided by the city. “Items left unattended between 9 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. the following day will be removed from the beach and discarded.”
