WILDWOOD, NJ — City officials approved a new curfew on the popular Wildwood Boardwalk that will go into effect this summer.
The curfew, which will close the boardwalk from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, was approved at Wednesday's Board of Commissioners meeting.
It will go into effect May 12, just before Memorial Day Weekend.
Officials framed the curfew as a response to safety concerns.
“These hours are designed to limit late-night crowds and support a welcoming friendly atmosphere for everyone to enjoy the best of our Boardwalk,” said Steve Mikulski, Deputy Mayor and Commissioner of Public Safety. “We fully support our Boardwalk businesses. This is not about limiting business activity, it’s about preventing loitering, large gatherings, and the types of behavior that tend to occur after hours.”
Signage will be posted and enforcement will be carried out by Wildwood police.
"We don't want to do this, but we have to be proactive. We have to," Commissioner Krista McConnell said, according to Action News.
Jersey Shore towns have struggled with large, unruly crowds over the past several years. Last year, Wildwood put a teen curfew in place in response. Read more: Teen Curfew To Be Strictly Enforced In Jersey Shore Town This Summer
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