New Jersey beach badges: There's an app for that

By SHAWN MARSH, Associated Press
MANASQUAN, N.J. (AP) - Beach badges at the New Jersey shore have changed little since the practice of charging to use the public beaches began during the Great Depression.
But it's baby steps for beaches as they slowly move into the digital age.
Beachgoers will still wear their proof of purchases this summer but now more towns are making online purchases possible. Bradley Beach, which claims it became the first in 1929 to require badges, is the latest to offer an app to purchase badges.
Asbury Park, Manasquan, Seaside Heights, Longport and Ventnor City offer the mobile option for badge purchases, and Sea Isle City has a vending machine.
Officials say electronic badges that can be swiped at beach entryways eventually will replace the plastic ovals with pins that adorn swimsuits and beach bags.
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