Manahawkin Lake inside the A. Paul King County Park in Stafford Township reopened for swimming on Friday.

“As we started to reopen, we had to also gear up our staff and we're depending on part time-staff,” says Ocean County Director of Parks Mike Mangum. “A lot of them are seniors and they are in the high-risk group, so it's been a struggle getting ready to open and we really weren't sure the beginning of May that we would see our beach open here in Manahawkin honestly."

The lake usually opens around Memorial Day, but staffing was an issue this year in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Lifeguards are now ready and social distancing will be enforced.

“We will have a social distance ambassador here on the beach to help assist the lifeguards,” says Mangum. “The lifeguards’ job is water safety. We don’t want them not focusing on the water, we want them focused on the lake. So, somebody else will be here to help them with that part of it.”

Playgrounds will remain closed as per Gov. Phil Murphy’s order.