A Tale Of Two Jersey Shore Boardwalks
When it comes to the New Jersey shore nothing compares to the boardwalk experience. The Jersey shore boardwalk is the hallmark experience of many Jersey shore towns. We’re only one week in to the summer of 2024 and we already have two major storylines wrapping their way through this quintessential experience.
The Jersey Shore Boardwalk
The vibe begins early each summer morning with the morning walkers and runners. They’re starting their day with the ocean air and the sunrise; and they’re taking that positive vibe through their day. The boardwalk beacons the daytime visitor who traverses it on the way to their place in the sand. Evening time brings the lovers, hand in hand.
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Some Jersey shore boardwalks are popping with the excitement of arcade games, the smell of funnel cake and the sound of thrill rides. Other boardwalks have none of that; their sole draw is the sea air and solitude. In the summer of 2024, two boardwalk stories have emerged.
Ocean Grove Beach Access
Sunday morning beach access was permitted in Ocean Grove. For the uninitiated this may seem like no big deal. However, it’s the first time in over 150 years that Sunday morning beach access was permitted in Ocean Grove. Up until last Sunday, the religious group that owns and controls Ocean Grove beach access did not allow people to access the beach on Sunday mornings for (their) religious reasons.
That group, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, has temporarily allowed beach access on Sunday mornings because the state of New Jersey was going to drop massive fines on them if they didn’t. They are awaiting a ruling to decide if the Sunday morning beach access will continue.
Meanwhile, Other Jersey Shore Boardwalks Close
While boardwalk beach access opened for the first time in generations in Ocean Grove, further south boardwalks closed or became limited due to violence.
In Toms River authorities imposed a curfew on youths in town, specifically on the barrier island towns. Unruly crowds caused security issues for Tom River police leading them to impose a curfew on anyone younger than 18. The curfew is in effect from 10pm to 5am. A few exemptions will be allowed. Curfews on the Toms River towns on the barrier island have happened in the past, but rarely this early in the summer. Important to note that social media reports of gunfire on the boardwalk in Seaside were not confirmed by Toms River police.
The popular Jersey shore destination of Wildwood had so many problems with crowd control that they imposed a “state of emergency” and actually limited boardwalk access to the Wildwood boardwalk. Wildwood police described the problems as “numerous incidents of civil unrest”.
“These measures were necessary to ensure public safety and maintain law and order within our jurisdiction. As of this time the state of emergency has been rescinded and we thank everyone for their cooperation.”
A Tale Of Two Boardwalks
From gaining beach access in one sleepy Monmouth County Jersey shore town to a near riot closing boardwalk access in another community, the differences in Jersey shore boardwalks couldn’t be more different.
