Leave those tents at home if you’re heading to Island Beach State Park this summer. A new rule change will limit the types of sun shades allowed in the state park.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, tents and canopies will no longer be allowed in the swimming areas of the park, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna said.
Safety concerns prompted the change.
“During summer lightning storms, canopies and tents make it difficult for park staff to clear people off the beach in a swift manner,” Hajna said. “Additionally, restricting the swimming areas to single-pole umbrellas would allow more room on the beach and improve ocean views for all beach users.”
Tents and canopies were previously allowed so long as they didn’t block the lifeguards views. Combining multiple canopies or tents together was never allowed, Hajna said.
Single-pole umbrellas are still allowed, as are baby shade tents, Hajna confirmed.
Other, non-swimming areas of the park will still allow tents. Areas that allow mobile sport fishing vehicle permit holders to drive onto the sand to fish will still allow tents.
“This area is much less crowded, and users have an opportunity to use their vehicles for safety in the event of a lightning storm,” Hajna said.
Island Beach State Park joins a long list of beaches that have banned tents and canopies from their shores. Several made the move to ban them this summer, citing shrinking beaches due to erosion, while others ban them to ensure everyone can enjoy ocean views.
This will also be the first summer in several years beach bums will have to pay to enter the park. Entrance fees have been waived the past two fiscal years as part of a “tax holiday,” but that price break will end on July 1. Parking will once again cost $10 per car on the weekend and $6 on weekdays.
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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.
