Island Beach State Park Will Have Lifeguards On Sept. Weekends

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ — Summer isn't quite over yet at Island Beach State Park. The beaches will have lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday through September.

Post-Labor Day, Island Beach State Park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily. Lifeguards will staff Swimming Areas 1 and 2, while the Southern Swim Area is closed for swimming.

The traditional summer season closed with Labor Day weekend. But with the coronavirus creating unusual summer timelines, some Jersey Shore towns opted to keep their beaches staffed through "Locals Summer."

Nearby guarded beaches will include will also include Ortley Beach. Read more: Toms River Adds 3 Weekends To Ortley Beach Lifeguard Staffing

But Island Beach State Park has simply continued its tradition from past years of keeping beaches guarded on a limited basis through September.

The Ocean County Health Department was excited to announce that several beaches in Ocean County will operate through September. But the OCHD urges residents and visitors to take safety protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Center for Disease Control suggests the following while at the beach:

• Keep your blankets and chairs a good 6 feet away from your nearest neighbors.
• Don’t share food, drinks, equipment, toys and supplies with people you don’t live with.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Sneeze and cough into a tissue or sleeve.
• Wear a face covering if social distancing isn’t feasible. (Especially if waiting in line for restrooms, food vendors, or any activity that brings people in close distance of others).
• Stay home if sick.
• Children under 2 should never wear a face covering.
• Follow all posted and announced beach guidelines related to COVID-19 and other safety rules.

“Ocean County has some of the best beaches in the country,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health. “We certainly want our residents and visitors to enjoy this beautiful resource but the pandemic isn’t over and we need everyone to do their part in mitigating the transmission of the COVID-19 virus by adhering to all the social distancing measures and by wearing a mask when appropriate.”

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