Summer Is Extended At Jersey Shore With Lifeguards — And Fees

JERSEY SHORE — Labor Day weekend never had to mean the end of summer on the Jersey Shore, especially if you live here. But many towns will continue the summer-beach vibes through September.

That means swimming with lifeguards — and paying for beach tags.

Some towns have extended the season for beach tags because of budgetary issues associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

For instance, Seaside Heights will enforce beach tags on weekends because of a "very serious budget crisis caused by COVID-19 as well as constraints directed by the Governor's Office and many other related issues connected to COVID-19," according to local officials.

Shore towns also won't have as many restrictions as they did to begin the summer. During Memorial Day weekend, restaurants couldn't provide on-site dining and amusement parks and other entertainment venues remained closed.

Here's where you can find shore towns that extended their beach seasons:

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Asbury Park

City Council is looking to extend the 2020 Asbury Park Beach season through September. Badges will be required to access the beach through Sept. 30, officials say. Read more: Asbury Park Set To Extend Beach Season

Atlantic City

A limited number of beaches will be open through Sept. 30, according to the city website.

Belmar

Belmar says it won't be able to charge or provide a full staff, but the town is working on getting lifeguards and other personnel to take care of the beach and keep it safe. Read more: Belmar Will Not Be Able To Extend Summer, Charge At Beach

Island Beach State Park

Beaches will have lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday through September. Read more: Island Beach State Park Will Have Lifeguards On Sept. Weekends

Long Branch

All Long Branch public beaches will remain open until Sept. 30 this year, meaning that lifeguards will be on duty weekdays and weekends and badges will be required. Long Branch lifeguards will be on duty 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

Badges have been extended to be valid through Sept. 30. You can buy a daily beach pass from badge checkers at the beach. Read more: Long Branch Extends Summer Beach Season 'Til Sept. 30

Long Beach Island

Barnegat Light: Beaches at Ninth, 18th, 22nd and 25th streets will remain guarded until Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During this week, the tram will run every day from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., except from 1-2 p.m.

From next Monday through Sept. 30, the following beaches will have lifeguards:

• Ninth Street: Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• 18th, 22nd and 25th Streets: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, weather permitting

During that span, the tram will operate from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday through Sunday, except 12-1 p.m.

Beach Haven: Lifeguards will work the Centre Street beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 20.

Harvey Cedars: Lifeguards will staff Middlesex Avenue beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 30. They will also guard the beach at 80th Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through September.

Long Beach Township: The township will have lifeguards 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through September at the following beaches: 68th Street in Brant Beach, 81st Street in Beach Haven Crest, 131st Street in Spray Beach, 25th Street in Spray Beach and the first beach in Holgate south of Beach Haven, according to The Sandpaper.

47th Street in Brant Beach and 96th Street in Beach Haven Crest will have lifeguards on weekends.

Ship Bottom: Lifeguards will staff the beaches at 7th, 15th and 20th Streets through Sept. 30.

Surf City: 12th and 14th Street beaches will remain guarded for the week after Labor Day.

Read more: LBI Beaches Extend Summer Lifeguard Season

Manasquan

The beaches will be staffed with lifeguards this Saturday and Sunday, along with Sept. 19 and 20. All other days following Labor Day the beaches will not be guarded and swimming is prohibited.

Beach bathrooms will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through September 20th. Read more: Manasquan: Free Beach To First Responders As Season Goes On

Middletown

Middletown will keep public-beach restrooms open until 9 p.m. through Sept. 20. They may continue after depending on weather and demand, but officials won't make a decision until then. Middletown's beaches are free. Read more: Middletown Extends Beach Season; Sandy Hook Does Not

Monmouth Beach

The beach will reopen its Bathing Pavilion and bring in on-duty lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12, 13, 19 and 20.

During weekdays, lifeguards will not be on duty and the pavilion will be closed. However, restrooms will continue to be open daily through the 20th, according to officials. Read more: Monmouth Beach Adds 2 Weekends To Extended Beach Season

Ocean City

The Ocean City Beach Patrol will staff several beaches through Sept. 20 and a few more through Sept. 27. Read more: Ocean City Extends Season For Beach Patrol, Farmers Market

Guarded until Sept. 20: Brighton Place, 10th Street and 11th Street.

Guarded until Sept. 27: St. Charles Place, 8th Street, 9th Street, 12th Street, 34th Street and 58th Street.

Point Pleasant Beach/Jenkinson's

Point Pleasant Beach have limited plans for guarded beaches, though they will be open through at least Sunday. Read more: Here's How Point Pleasant Beach Is Extending Beach Season

Seaside Heights, Seaside Park

Both towns will have lifeguards on the weekends only and will be closing their beaches after Sept. 27. Swimming is permitted at designated sections of the ocean beach only when lifeguards are on duty.

Seaside Heights is requiring wristbands daily through Sept. 13 and then weekends only after that. Read more: Beach Weekends Set To Continue In Seasides Through September

Toms River

Ortley Beach will continue to have lifeguards on weekends only after Labor Day through the last Saturday in September. Restrooms will be open daily.

Lifeguards will be present on weekends only through Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., weather permitting. On weekends, seasonal badges will continue to be honored and daily badges will continue to be sold. Read more: Toms River Adds 3 Weekends To Ortley Beach Lifeguard Staffing

With reporting from Carly Baldwin, Tom Davis, Nicole Rosenthal and Karen Wall/Patch Staff.

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