Many Jersey Shore beachgoers will have to forego some shade this summer, as issues like erosion and a lack of beach space have led several townships to restrict the use of tents, cabanas and canopies.
Another reason is the increased use of the view-stealing structures, officials in several towns said ahead of the Memorial Day Weekend. Besides blocking ocean views from the sand, the shelters impede lifeguards and paramedics should their efforts be needed, especially with less sand to maneuver through.
Brick Township and North Wildwood are among those banning beach tents, canopies, cabanas and the like in areas staffed by lifeguards. More than a dozen beach municipalities, including Asbury Park, Avon-by-The-Sea, Belmar and Bradley Beach, have also nixed tents or canopies, though some allow such structures below a certain size, reports NJ.com in a comprehensive guide.
Of course, plenty is still allowed, because no one wants beachgoers to get burned to a crisp. Reasonably sized traditional beach umbrellas with one pole are fine, as are baby tents.
Many beaches, including in Atlantic City, still do not have any restrictions, NJ.com noted.
Both beach size and safety are creating the need for the bans, officials said.
“Right now, it’s just that we just don’t have the space,” North Wildwood Beach Patrol Chief Bill Ciavarelli told NBC News. “Our biggest concern is any kind of emergency. We’ve got to somehow get through this crowd with very little beach to get to people.”
Quickly clearing beaches in case of lightning strikes is another safety consideration, officials at Island Beach State Park told WCAU-TV of its ban.
Beach restoration efforts are under way in several of these areas, so the bans are largely temporary, NBC News reported.
With News Wire Services
