Jersey Shore communities limit crowds during 4th consecutive summer scorcher

Communities like Asbury Park had to once again put a cap on how many people they allowed on the beach as temperatures topped 90 degrees for the fourth day.

News 12 Staff

Jul 21, 2020, 10:16 AM

Updated 1,545 days ago

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Communities like Asbury Park had to once again put a cap on how many people they allowed on the beach as temperatures topped 90 degrees for the fourth day.
Jersey Shore businesses rely on the three summer months to make profits, but this summer they also had to make plans to help prevent any further spread of COVID-19.
Asbury Park sold about 9,000 seasonal beach badges once it was permitted to open its beaches. Since then, like every other shore community, Asbury Park has been keeping a close eye on how many daily badges are sold each day. Every day at 6:30 p.m., daily badges go on sale for the following day on the town's Viply App.
The limit of badges is an effort to not just keep its beach season alive, but to also properly continue the coronavirus fight. The limit, however, has led to some frustration among would-be beachgoers.
"Every day it was like, you had to buy the daily pass and we'd go over to the window at 9 p.m., and the app would always say it was sold out," said Chris McFadden, of Ocean Grove.
Some residents are sympathetic to the situation.
"I feel for people. If you sit in traffic on the parkway... I've been in that traffic, it could take four hours, and then you get down here and can't go on the beach, I could see how of course you're going to be upset," says John Elfers, of Neptune.
Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn says it's a daily challenge to ensure safety at the beach.
"We’re working it out. We lost some parking, losing some beach revenue, but if we can keep the residents in this town safe and visitors in this town safe, top priority," Quinn says.
Quinn emphasizes that it's important to know before visitors head to the beach if daily badges will be available once they arrive. She also recommends frequently checking Asbury Park's social media platforms.
"Our Facebook, our Instagram, our Twitter, our website and let me also say if you get down here... I have a little kid, I get it. If you get here and you can't get a pass, email me or call me, or call the mayor, call other councilmembers. Don't yell at our beach staff. They have absolutely no say in how many badges that we sell," Quinn says.
She also encourages those who have not been able to visit the beaches to check online daily because spots become available throughout the day.