Asbury Park Beaches, Boardwalk Are Reopening

Tom Davis
·7 min read

ASBURY PARK – Asbury Park announced this weekend that its beaches and boardwalk are reopening.

To provide a safe and healthy environment for beach visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and comply with the latest state and federal guidance, the city has developed an opening plan resulting from a culmination of efforts by City Council, the Beach Office, the Department of Public Works, the Office of Emergency Management and the Asbury Park Police Department.

The city will evaluate the beach program daily throughout the 2020 Season and make safety adjustments as needed.

“Asbury Park Boardwalk and Beaches will be open for Memorial Day Weekend. We know our residents are looking forward to summer. And, Asbury Park has always welcomed visitors—we know how much they help our economy,” said Mayor John Moor. “That said, this is not a normal summer season. We are in the middle of a pandemic, and we need to be smart. We are going to have to limit numbers, practice social distancing, wear face coverings and masks, and make the experience as contactless as possible for the safety of beach visitors and our staff.

"Our goal is to keep our residents and visitors safe and keep our boardwalk and beaches open. We thank everyone for their continued efforts and cooperation in helping to make 2020 a healthy and enjoyable summer for all.”

Asbury Park Boardwalk

The Asbury Park Boardwalk will re-open on Friday, May 22, 2020, if not sooner.

  • The Boardwalk will be set up for one-way travel in each direction. Pedestrians will be asked to stay to the right when walking. Please follow signage and markings on the Boardwalk.

  • Social distancing will be required on the Boardwalk.

  • Benches will be removed from the Boardwalk until further notice to eliminate congregation.

  • Face coverings or masks will need to be worn (except in the cases where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age) when:

    • Walking on the Boardwalk

    • Entering or exiting the beach on beach entry ramps

    • Using restroom facilities.

    • Face coverings/masks do not need to be worn when swimming or sunbathing

  • Asbury Park Convention Hall will remain closed until further notice, however the restrooms inside the building will be available to the public.

  • City ordinance prohibits dogs on the Boardwalk from May 16 to September 14.

  • City ordinance prohibits bicycles on the Boardwalk between 10am and midnight.

  • City ordinance prohibits skates, rollerblades, skateboards, and scooters (except handicap vehicles) on the Boardwalk at all times.

Asbury Park Beaches

Beach passes will be required to access Asbury Park beaches beginning Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 9am and will be required through at least the Monday of Labor Day Weekend. Additional September weekends may be added after Labor Day, depending on weather and water conditions. The following policies have been established for the 2020 Beach Season:

  • Social distancing will be required on the beach – groups of beach patrons (families, household members, caretakers, couples) must sit at least six (6) feet apart from others.

  • Face coverings or masks will need to be worn when walking on the Boardwalk, entering or exiting the beach on beach entry ramps, and using the restroom facilities. Face coverings or masks do not need to be worn when swimming or sunbathing.

  • Overall beach capacity will be controlled by limiting the number of beach passes sold. Individual areas of the beach will be monitored daily and access points may be closed to ensure proper social distancing.

  • To access the beach, beach passes (daily wristbands or season badges) must be worn at all times and will be checked on your way onto the sand. All sales for beach passes for the 2020 Season will be done exclusively through the Viply mobile app (www.viplypass.com/asburypark). For the 2020 Season all beach pass purchases will be cashless. The Viply app may be downloaded in advance, however, for security purposes, ASBURY PARK INFORMATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO VIEW UNTIL 9AM ON MAY 15, 2020.

Daily Beach Passes

  • The number of daily beach passes sold for the 2020 Season will be limited.

  • Daily beach passes will be available for purchase exclusively through Viply each day at 5pm for the following day only.

  • Daily beach passes can only be used for the day they are purchased.

  • Daily beach pass sales will begin Friday, May 22 at 5pm.

  • Each app user is permitted to purchase a maximum of four (4) daily beach passes each day.

  • 2020 Season daily rates: Monday to Friday: $5; Weekends and Holidays: $7

  • Children under 12 are free and do not need a beach pass to access the beach, but must be supervised by an adult.

  • No refunds for daily passes will be given for any reason, including weather or beach closures.

Seasonal Beach Badges

  • The number of seasonal beach badges sold for the 2020 Season will be limited.

  • Seasonal beach badges will be available for purchase exclusively through Viply beginning Friday May 15, 2020 at 9am.

  • Each app user is permitted to purchase a maximum of two (2) seasonal beach badges.

  • Once beach badges are purchased through the Viply app, instructions will be emailed to purchasers within 24-hours regarding pick-up of physical badges.

  • Senior and teen beach badges can purchased through the Viply app at a discounted rate. ID showing proof of age must be presented at pick-up.

  • 2020 Season beach badge rates: $70 for adults; $20 for seniors; $20 for teens.

  • Children under 12 are free and do not need a beach pass to access the beach, but must be supervised by an adult.

  • No refunds for season badges will be given for any reason, including weather or beach closures. Beach badge fees cannot be prorated for badges bought later in the 2020 Season.

2020 Season Beach Badge Gift Certificates

  • Gift certificates purchased for the 2020 Season will be honored and can be exchanged for a season beach badge. For redemption instructions, email beach@cityofasburypark.com.

Beach Passes for Veterans

  • New for this year, Retired and Non-Active Veterans will be admitted free of charge, in addition to Active Military Personnel and their dependents, and Disabled Veterans

  • Active Military Personnel and Veterans must present a Uniformed Services ID Card or an Award Letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs at the at the 3rd Avenue Ticket Booth on the Boardwalk in exchange for free daily passes.

Beach Entry Ramps

  • Overall beach capacity will be controlled by limiting the number of beach passes sold. Individual areas of the beach will be monitored daily and access points may be closed to ensure proper social distancing.

  • Access to the beach will be available at the following beach entrances for the 2020 Season:

    • Asbury Park Casino

    • First Avenue

    • Second Avenue

    • Third Avenue

    • Fifth Avenue

    • Sixth Avenue

  • Due to ongoing construction of the north end of the Asbury Park Boardwalk, the following beach entrances will be closed until further notice:

    • Seventh Avenue

    • Eighth Avenue

    • Deal Lake Drive

Eight Avenue Dog Beach

  • The Eighth Avenue Dog Beach will be closed due to ongoing construction of the north end of the Asbury Park Boardwalk beginning Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Restrooms and Beach Amenities

  • Access to restroom facilities will be limited to one person at a time.

  • Face coverings or masks will need to be worn when using restroom facilities.

  • New policies and procedures have been implemented for regular cleaning.

  • Restrooms will be available at the following locations:

    • First Avenue

    • Fourth Avenue

    • Asbury Park Convention Hall

    • Sixth Avenue

  • Beach showers, water fountains and new water bottle refilling stations will be unavailable until further notice.

  • The playgrounds at Second and Seventh Avenues will remain closed until further notice.

  • WaterWheels adaptive chairs will be available, visit www.cityofasburypark.com/waterwheels.

  • Beach locker renters who have confirmed payment may begin utilizing lockers beginning Friday, May 22, 2020.

  • Contact sports, organized events, and summer camps are prohibited until further notice.

Tents and Canopies Prohibited

New for this year, tents, canopies and similar enclosures/weather shields are prohibited on City beaches, with the following exceptions:

  • Baby tents no larger than forty-eight (48) inches high by forty-nine (49) inches wide by thirty-six (36) inches deep which are utilized for infants and small children.

  • Traditional collapsible umbrellas utilized for shade purposes and/or protection from the weather, consisting of fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole, with a diameter, when opened, not to exceed six (6) feet wide.

For questions, call the Asbury Park Beach Office at 732-502-8863 or email beach@cityofasburypark.com.To view release, visit https://www.cityofasburypark.com/DocumentCenter/View/1549/051420Beach2020Season.

This article originally appeared on the Asbury Park Patch