Community Corner

Island Beach State Park Now Fully Reopened

Second bathing area reopens; interpretive programs return, are enhanced

Even some light rain lingering from the previous night couldn't keep beachgoers away from Island Beach State Park on Tuesday.

State officials announced the full reopening of the park following Superstorm Sandy on Tuesday with little fanfare, but plenty of excitement to get back to normal at what is arguably the state's most important park.

The park has reopened in stages since late January with the final piece of the puzzle – the Ocean Bathing Area 1 pavilion – coming back in time for the Fourth of July holiday this week.

Ocean Bathing Area 2 had already reopened, but the addition of "OBA-1," as it is often called, means the park can now operate at its full capacity.

Most oceanside access trails for beachgoers and access points for sport fishermen driving four-wheel-drive vehicles are also open, as are all restroom facilities, concessions and a full slate of interpretive programs, officials said.

The opening of OBA1 comes complete with its concession stand a new boardwalk, said Ray Bukowski, park manager.

The park's two bayside trails are also open for visitors on foot and or those wishing to launch a permitted watercraft such as a kayak. Oceanside access trails south of the two main bathing pavilions are open, but subject to periodic closure as some minor restoration work continues, officials said.

"As a jewel, you can't put a price on 10 miles of pristine seashore," said Mark Texel, director of the New Jersey State Parks Service. "There's no other state park like this in the United States, and certainly not in New Jersey's park system."

"It's an amazing resource, and it serves a dual purpose of protecting the bayside as well," Texel said, referring to the park's natural barrier dunes which remained mostly intact during Sandy.

Repairs to the park following Sandy will likely come in somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million, said Texel, which will be reimbursed 90 percent by the federal government.

The park also benefited from numerous volunteer restoration efforts over the winter, including a wildly successful Christmas tree recycling project which helped naturally rebuild the park's dune line.

"It is important, mentally, for people to get a reprieve from what they're doing," said Bukowski. "If you like to fish, you can get out and fish. We were really happy to open our bay access points because a lot of people wanted to get out and kayak or go clamming. Now they have that ability. It's incredible."

The park has also restarted all of its interpretive programs for the summer, and expanded into new areas. The park staff also recently expanded by one with the addition of Dr. Edward Hale, who was hired as the park's full-time naturalist to oversee the programs.

Events at the park this summer will include kayak-based programs like sunset paddles, birding and a historical perspective of Barnegat Bay, as well as fishing lessons, ocean education and surfing lessons and guided wildlife tours in conjunction with partners Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

Texel said park staff are still going over visitor numbers for June, which suffered not only from lingering affects from the storm but poor weather. Officials are hoping, however, to come within 5 percent of 2012's seasonal attendance.

Park hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for beachgoers and 24 hours a day for fishermen. Those interested in the park's program can visit a state website for more information.


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