A day at the beach ... what's the cost?

BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Beachgoers in New Jersey can pay anywhere from $5 per day to upward of $17,000 per year to soak up the sun's rays and take a dip in the ocean. State Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen released the second annual beach report last week, citing wide disparities in the cost of accessing the state's beaches.

According to Chen's office, beach fees range from a $5 daily fee in Long Branch up to a $17,000 membership in a private Sea Bright beach club .

The 65-page "2007 Guide to New Jersey Beaches" is the first salvo in a larger public awareness issue, according to Chen, who said in an interview Friday that the range of beach fees is a concern in shore communities throughout the state.

The issue has been raised as to "whether these fees are reasonable or appropriate," said Chen. "We do not have enough information to say. [The report] provides, we hope, a resource on where to go, what [amenities] are available, restrooms, disability access, etc."

A sign states the cost of admission at the Sea Bright municipal beach. The report is the first step in raising public awareness, according to Chen, who explained that New Jersey residents have expressed concerns about beach access.

Such concerns include the fees charged at different areas along the coastline as well as limited public access points along the shore, according to Chen.

"I don't think this is a new issue," he said. "There are a number of steps to take. It is a little early now," he said about what, if anything, his office plans to do next.

"Might we take a harder look to determine if fees are reasonable or to determine whether there are appropriate facilities?" Chen said.

"Yes, that would be a logical step," he said.

The guide includes information about daily, weekly and seasonal fees, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, parking, restrooms, lifeguard coverage and beach locations.

The report highlights beach access points, amenities and costs in 48 towns along the state's shoreline, including for the first time, information on 40 private beach clubs.

The report is organized into several sections, including a history on New Jersey beach access and a guide, listing amenities and daily fees associated with each of the 48 shore towns.

Other sections include a breakdown of specific information of each beach, which is listed by county, including Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties.

To view the guide in its entirety, visit www.state.nj.us/publicadvocate.

"New Jersey beach-goers should be informed about the costs and services available at our state's great beaches," Chen said in a press release issued with the report. "The beach guide documents that some beaches are free, while others charge significant daily fees.

"Some offer plenty of parking and services and others do not. Our beach guide will assist beach-goers in finding the right beach for them."

Beach towns cited in the guide include Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright.

For Long Branch public beaches, the daily beach fee is $5 per person; a seasonal beach pass is $35. In Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright, the daily fee is $8 in both towns with the seasonal rate for Monmouth Beach at $70 and Sea Bright at $100.

The guide also includes information on 40 private beach clubs, which typically only permit beach access to club members, according to the guide.

Private clubs include Le Club @ Avenue in Long Branch, which charges a $5,000 membership fee, and the Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club, which the membership fee was not released to the advocate's office, according to the guide.

Ten beach clubs in Sea Bright are cited in the guide including Sands Beach Club of Sea Bright with a membership fee that starts at $2,500 per season and Driftwood Cabana Club, which costs anywhere from $7,840 to $17,235 to join for a season.

The beach guide was assembled with information on public beaches obtained from Jersey Shore municipal officials and Web sites. The data in the report was then provided to local officials to confirm accuracy, according to Chen.

"We hope beach-goers across the state find this information helpful as they visit the Jersey Shore this summer to enjoy one of our state's most cherished treasures," Chen said.