Ocean City Residents Worry About Teen Beach Gatherings

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Residents and Ocean City Council members alike shared concerns about teenagers forming large groups on the beach.

These groups are improperly using Green Acres space and affecting quality of life for visitors and vacationers, people said at a recent City Council meeting. The teenagers are harming Ocean City's family-friendly reputation, following similar incidents of teens gathering in Jersey Shore towns.

Resident Barbara Betson read a letter on behalf of her neighbor on Bay Avenue, Dawn Lucas. In the letter, Lucas asked for action to be taken on non-residents misusing the Green Acres land across from her house. Specifically, she mentioned overnight usage, loud music and littering.

Another resident, James Kane, similarly read a letter on behalf of Bay Avenue neighbors.

"What had been a tranquil, beautiful bayside community has developed into an extremely unpleasant environment during the summer season," the letter read, due to people abusing the Green Acres land on Bay Avenue.

The abuse includes "extremely loud music" with profane language, usage of profanity, usage of alcohol and drugs, the parking lot being used as an overnight campground, speeding and more, Kane said.

"This violative conduct continues unabated weekly through the summer, often on a daily basis, day and night," Kane said. He added that it has "literally destroyed" enjoyment of the once-quiet area and their own homes.

Kane said that he has talked to Councilman Terrence Crowley Jr. and Police Chief Jay Prettyman about these issues and said that they all seem to be on the same page. Kane recommended blocking the entrance to the Green Acres park with cables from sundown to sunup and adding proper signage to help with the problems.

Bart Brigidi, formerly from Vineland but now a full-time Ocean City resident, said his former neighbors and renters are scared to bring their families on the 11th Street Boardwalk area because of these groups.

Brigidi said that allowing these groups to continue would damage Ocean City's family-friendly reputation.

Councilman Jody Levchuk said that the 11th Street gatherings are "essentially the hottest nightclub at the Jersey Shore for teenagers right now," acknowledging that the problem will only get worse.

Levchuk thanked the police officers for their work, but said that it was not a police problem, but a "parent problem."

"I don't know how somebody could let their teenagers go out like that," Levchuk said.

Levchuk added that Ocean City could not let its reputation be damaged by "a bunch of teenager punk kids."

Councilman Keith Hartzell suggested a temporary curfew for certain age groups on the beach and Boardwalk.

Crowley and Councilwoman Karen Bergman agreed that it was best to keep the teenagers on the beach and off of the Boardwalk.

Bergman's concerns were that the gatherings were on social media, but suggested officials could interject and deter them from happening.

Councilman Tom Rotondi said they should team up with other shore towns to pressure the state to help.

Gatherings of teenagers are common at the shore this summer, with both Long Branch and Point Pleasant Beach currently dealing with these issues. These "pop-up" parties have begun appearing across shore areas, with a May Long Branch party resulting in arrests and property damage. Both of those beach towns have filed lawsuits against party organizers in an attempt to stop upcoming June 18 and 19 parties.