Long Beach Beach Passes Now On Sale

LONG BEACH, NY — The City of Long Beach announced that beach passes are now on sale for the 2020 summer, even though the beach is still closed.

Passes went on sale today, and are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends. Passes are available at the Gazebo, at 150 West Bay Drive off Magnolia Boulevard (by the Ice Arena), and at the Beach Park trailer, at 300 West Broadway, at Laurelton Boulevard. Long lines are expected, and social distancing measures will be in place. You must be wearing a mask when you get on line to purchase a beach pass.

Resident passes are $50 for an individual, $70 for Family, $15 for seniors and $25 for children. Proof of residency is required to purchase resident passes. Prices are double for non-residents. Checks, Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted.

The city has not yet said when the beach will open, even though the state gave permission for beaches to open this weekend. City Council President John Bendo said the city will announce by Wednesday whether the beach will be open this weekend.

"While we are confident in the protocols we are putting in place, we also need to be sure we’re able to properly staff up in time," Bendo said. "As you can imagine, activating an entire beach workforce in just one week’s time is extremely challenging."

When the beaches open, there will still be restrictions in place. Capacity will be limited to 50 percent, and face masks will be required when social distancing can't be maintained. Playgrounds and concessions will be closed, and group activities will be prohibited.

"Everyone has different comfort levels and opinions about when and how to re-open our society," Bendo said. "And while you may be willing to take a personal risk, you do not have the right to put others at risk. So please be thoughtful with each other and respect differing opinions, but also understand that the rules are the rules. They must be adhered to and will be enforced."