Fees To Resume At Island Beach State Park This Summer

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ — After almost four years of free entrance to Island Beach State Park, fees are likely to be reinstated under Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

A "fee holiday" in the 2022 and 2023 budgets waived entry fees to all New Jersey state parks, including Island Beach State Park. Before that, free passes were given out in 2021 as an incentive for residents to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

RELATED: 5 Big Takeaways From Murphy's Budget Address

The entrance fees - $6 for weekday parking and $10 for weekend/holiday parking - would go back into effect on July 1, 2024, which is the first day of the 2025 fiscal year. The State Legislature must approve a budget by then, or risk a government shutdown.

It's not clear why Murphy is deciding to reinstate these fees or how much revenue they bring in. According to NJ Advance Media, it's estimated that last year's fee holiday cost the state $2.7 million in lost revenue.

In last year's proposed budget, Murphy touted making New Jersey more affordable, and part of this was the state park fee waiver. In the upcoming budget, Murphy is promising better affordability via property tax relief. Read more: 3 Huge Property Tax Relief Plans For NJ In Proposed 2024 Budget