No Set Date for Brick Beach Reopening

Township officials say they will begin to reopen ocean beaches soon, though there is no concrete date set.

"When the police chief says we can open the beach, we can open the beach," said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras.

As it currently stands, the barrier island section of the township remains under a limited state of emergency that imposes lower speed limits and a pedestrian curfew, as well as a regulation that only residents and those with permission may access side streets.

Pezarras said the township will likely open Beach 1, the northernmost of the township's three public ocean beaches, first. Then Beach 2 and Beach 3 would follow.

The parking lot for Beach 3 remains damaged from Superstorm Sandy and is still being used to handle both debris removal and hold heavy equipment.

"We're also being asked by the state to continue to use a portion of the Beach 3 parking lot as a debris management area," said Pezarras.

When the beach is reopened, the lot in the median of Route 35 will likely be used as a public parking lot. Under normal circumstances, that lot functions more as a long-term lot for permit holders who can park there overnight.