Middletown Extends Beach Season; Sandy Hook Does Not

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — You can credit either the extremely nice weather or blame the ongoing COVID shutdown, but one thing is certain: Middletown is keeping its beaches open longer this September.

In a typical year, Middletown closes its public beaches the day after Labor Day. But 2020 has been anything but typical.

"We close the public restrooms and the showers, and if we had lifeguards they would be done also," said town administrator Tony Mercantante. "We have decided to keep our restrooms open until 8:00 p.m. through September 20. If the great weather and the demand continues we could extend that, but no decision will be made until then."

All of Middletown's public beaches are free, which played a large part in making them so attractive to out-of-towners this year — something that unfortunately also led to a lot of trash complaints and people "using the dunes as bathrooms." In response to what happened this summer, Middletown is actually now toying with the idea of adding lifeguards to its beaches, and requiring paid beach badges next summer.

Up and down the Jersey Shore, other towns are similarly extending the summer beach season: Long Branch officially extended its summer beach season to Sept. 30. Lifeguards will be on duty weekdays and weekends until Sept. 30 and badges will be required.

However, Gateway National Park/Sandy Hook closed as regularly scheduled.

"No extension this year. The swimming season at Sandy Hook ended yesterday (Labor Day)," said a park spokeswoman.

Must read: Middletown Addresses Ideal Beach's Trash, Illegal Parking Problem (July 27)