When are NJ Beaches Reopening? Guide to 2013 Jersey Shore Access
Just months after Superstorm Sandy, beach towns have worked effortlessly to rebuild and reconstruct the beaches and boardwalks along the coast of New Jersey. With the 2013 summer season quickly approaching, many New Jersey shore communities have been steadily working to restore their beaches and boardwalks for visitors to enjoy as soon as Memorial Day weekend. Here's your guide to when NJ beaches and boardwalks are expected to reopen for the 2013 summer season!
ASBURY PARK
The Asbury Park boardwalk is open and the beach is expected to open on Saturday, May 18. | Official Site | Facebook
AVON BY-THE-SEA
The boardwalk from Lincoln Avenue to the Shark River was to be opened in late April. If the gazebo and railings at Garfield Avenue can be completed, the boardwalk will be open from that point. | Official Site
BAYHEAD
Beach(es) are expected to be open by June 15. | Official Site
BELMAR
Belmar's boardwalk has plans to be reconstructed late Spring and beaches are expected to reopen for Memorial Day weekend. Vendors and restroom facilities will be mobile this summer. The destroyed pavilions will reopen until 2014. | Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
BERKELEY TWP
White Sands beach is expected to reopen on June 15. While the dunes have been restored, there are currently no plans to rebuild the boardwalk. | Official Site
BRICK
Officials are expecting to open Brick's three public beaches in time for Memorial Day. | Official Site
BRIELLE
Brielle Beach on the Manasquan River is accessible. The Manasquan River Yacht Club restoration is nearly complete. Sailing classes begin May 4. | Official Site
BRADLEY BEACH
The beach and miniature golf course are expected to be open by Memorial Day. | Official Site
HIGHLANDS
The free public beaches at Snug Harbor and Miller Street will be open by late June. | Official Site
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK
While currently the park is partially open (from its gate south to Ocean Beach 1), the entire park is expected to open by Memorial Day weekend. It is unclear whether the park marina in South Seaside Park will be ready for the summer. | Official Site
KEANSBURG
Most of the amusement rides and games opened Easter weekend, and work to reopen the entire amusement area is in progress. The beach area and boardwalk will be open in time for summer. | Official Site
LACEY TWP
Lacey Twp. officials continue to explore the beachfront and Forked River Beach Bayfront Park. | Official Site
LAVALLETTE
Beaches on both ocean and bay sides plan to open on Saturday, June 22. | Official Site
LONG BEACH ISLAND
Repairs to LBI's beaches, especially areas hardest hit such as Holgate are still underway in preparation for the island's beaches to open by Saturday, May 18.
LONG BRANCH
Pier Village's residences and roughly 30 businesses survived superstorm Sandy and have remained open. Long Branch did lose its boardwalk south from Melrose Terrace and although it won't be replacing it this summer, beach access will be created at that point for the summer season. | Official Site | Pier Village
MANASQUAN
The town's one-mile boardwalk promenade will be restored with lighting and restrooms and the beach will celebrate an official reopening ceremony on Thursday, May 23. | Official Site
MANTOLOKING
While borough officials are hopeful the devastated beaches will be open for the summer, the state Department of Environmental Protection will determine when the beaches open. | Official Site
MIDDLETOWN TWP
The township approved easements for a dune restoration project proposed for beaches along a stretch of Raritan Bay, including Ideal Beach. The beach is free with free parking and it has bathrooms and showers. | Official Site
MONMOUTH BEACH
The pavilion at Monmouth Beach is expected to open before Memorial Day weekend and beach tag prices will remain unchanged. | Official Site
OCEAN GROVE
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is currently appealing FEMA's rejection for public money to reconstruct Ocean Grove's boardwalk and sand dunes. Some sections of the boardwalk that survived the storm and beaches will be reopened by Memorial Day weekend. The marina in Shark River Hills is under reconstruction. | Official Site
POINT PLEASANT
The beaches at River Avenue and Maxson Avenue will be open this summer. The concerts at Riverfront Park will return this year. | Official Site
POINT PLEASANT BEACH
As reconstruction continues, the major work and boardwalk reconstruction should be compete before Memorial Day weekend. Efforts to sift the sand started in mid-April. | Jenkinson’s Boardwalk
SANDY HOOK
The park recently was awarded $2 million in federal aid to repair roads, in addition to $3.5 million awarded in February. Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook campground will reopen on May 1 as will three beach areas. The ferry service and bike path repairs at Sandy Hook might not be completed by Memorial Day weekend. | Official Site
SEA BRIGHT
The beaches are expected to open by Memorial Day. Temporary restrooms and showers will be brought in to replace of the bathhouse that was destroyed. Contractors are also clearing "Mount Sandy," a massive sand pile that resulted after crews cleared sand that the storm left on the streets and using it to restore the town's dunes. | Official Site
SEA GIRT
The borough's 3/4-mile boardwalk is on pace to be open by summer. The first phase of reconstruction, from the pavilion south to New York Boulevard, will be complete before Memorial Day weekend. The second phase, from New York Boulevard south to Seaside Place, will be complete June 22. | Official Site
SEASIDE HEIGHTS
Visitors will be able to access the mile-long boardwalk and beach by Memorial Day weekend, however some work will continue after the holiday. | Official Site
SEASIDE PARK
The borough expects to be ready for tourists in the coming weeks with both the beach and the marina opening soon. Repairs to the boardwalk and marina deck should be complete before summer, though residential repairs will take much longer. | Official Site
SPRING LAKE
Full beach access should be available by May 1. A two-mile stretch of boardwalk has been nearly repaired and is open for access. The northern section of the boardwalk is not completed yet. The South End Pavilion will be in use for the summer. The North End Pavilion is under construction (a project unrelated to Superstorm Sandy). Spring Lake Heights' two parks have reopened. | Official Site
STAFFORD TWP
Although Jennifer Lane beach may not be restored in entirety yet, the beach plans to open and accessible by Memorial Day weekend. | Official Site
TOMS RIVER
Ortley Beach and Shelter Cove beaches are scheduled to open daily June 22 though that date remains tentative. Badges will go on sale when beaches open and will be available only at beach locations. | Official Site
UNION BEACH
The beach will open in June, following a replenishment project. Metered parking spaces will be available. | Official Site