Brick Tightening Park Usage Ordinance To Rein In Groups Lacking Permits

BRICK, NJ — If you're planning to bring a large group of people to Windward Beach Park — or any of Brick Township's parks or beaches — you will need a use permit, under a proposed change in the town's current ordinances.

On Tuesday night, the Brick Township Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would tighten the language in existing township regulations regarding the use of its facilities by large groups. The move comes in the wake of complaints of groups of as many as 100 people — many of them children — being bused to Windward Beach to use the facilities, officials said.

In some cases, the buses and cargo vans were dropping small groups of adults and children off along Princeton Avenue and the group was then walking into the park, officials said after the council meeting. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to the Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Under the township's current ordinances, permits are required for "any entity, corporate or otherwise, wishing to use one of the Township facilities for an organized picnic or other organized event."

The update to Chapter 110, which addresses the beaches and waterfront parks, will change the section title to read "Use of facilities by groups or entities for organized events" and add the word groups to the language, "any group, entity, corporate or otherwise," defining it as more than 15 people: "For the purposes of this section, any group of more than 15 people shall be deemed a 'group or entity' subject to the permit requirements set forth herein."

Chapter 175 will be updated as well, adding to the section under "Buses, trucks and cargo vans" specifying that "Any group or entity, desiring to use, visit or hold an event at any Brick Township-owned or -controlled park, playground or playing field" must have a permit before anyone is dropped off, and again defining a group as more than 15 people.

The ordinances currently set permit fees based on the size of the group wishing to use the facility, with fees differing for residents, nonresidents, business gatherings and the like.

Residents who contacted the Patch said there have been groups of adults and children gathering on the beach at Windward Beach to swim. On Wednesday, three buses brought people to the park.

"One was clearly marked 'School For Children With Hidden Intelligence,' " said one resident who contacted the Patch and included photos showing the buses.

The School For Children With Hidden Intelligence is the special education school in Lakewood that has come under investigation in recent months after its founder and director, Rabbi Osher Eisemann, 60, of Lakewood, was indicted on charges of stealing more than $600,000 in public funds through the school.

Sources confirmed to the Patch that groups of Hasidic adults and children have been "taking over" the park frequently, and when asked for permits, said the ordinance did not require them.

Township officials would not comment on the makeup of the groups using the beach, saying only that there are concerns about adequate supervision and the need for police during large gatherings.

The second reading of the ordinance and potential approval is set for the Township Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

Patch file photo