State Reopens Sections Of Island Beach State Park Closed Since Sandy Hit

More sections of Island Beach State Park are now open to the public, nearly half a year after Superstorm Sandy tore through the park's dunes and damaged facilities.

Roughly five miles of beach access points - more than half of the nearly 10-mile park - are now open, state Department of Environmental Commissioner Bob Martin said.

The park will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, for the first time since Oct. 29, the day Sandy roared into Ocean County.

“Thanks to the hard work of park staff, partnerships, volunteers and contractors, we have seen considerable progress in the cleanup and restoration of Island Beach State Park,” Martin said in a statement Friday. “This is all part of the Christie Administration’s plan to have a strong summer tourist season at the shore."

The reopened areas include access trails and parking lots at A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5 and A-6. Only Ocean Bathing Area 1 and Gillikin's Road had been open since Jan. 25 for walking, sport fishing and four-wheel driving.

Visitors with 2012 and 2013 mobile sport fishing permits can now use Gillikin’s Road south to the A-7 access point.

Restrooms are now open in Ocean Bathing Area 1 and A-6. The air station for four-wheel drive vehicles is also available, so drivers can inflate and deflate their tires as needed.

The Reed’s Road parking area at the northern end of the park has also been reopened, which allows fishermen to access the beach on foot through the maintenance trail. The Nature Center is also open for group use by appointment only. Reservations can be made through the park office at (732) 793-0506

Metal detectors, permitted in accordance with State Park Service policies, also are now allowed on open sections of the beach.

Island Beach was inundated by Sandy's storm surge. All of the tool booths were flooded with a foot and a half of water. Shore Road - which runs the nine-mile length of the park - was choked with sand, up to seven feet in some sections.

"It was like driving through a snowdrift," Area Supervisor Ray Bukowski said in an earlier interview with Berkeley Patch.

The two ocean bathing beach buildings made it through the storm relatively well. But both boardwalks leading to the ocean at the first bathing beach were destroyed and boardwalks at the second bathing beach were damaged. The lifeguard towers at both beaches also took a hit, he said.

Ocean Bathing Area 2 and Two-Bit Road at the northern area of the park are still temporarily closed. All trails south of A-6 and bay access points 15 and 21 also remain closed. Horseback riding is not permitted yet.

.“We have seen a very enthusiastic response from visitors at Island Beach State Park since our partial reopening in January,” said Richard Boornazian, Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources.

The state Division of Parks and Forestry has extended the use of 2012 Island Beach State Park mobile sport fishing permits, until 2013 permits can be sold on park grounds. Those who would like to purchase a 2013 mobile sport fishing permit can do so via mail or at the Trenton Central Office of the State Park Service.

Bukowski warned visitors to be careful on Shore Road, because of increased truck traffic hauling debris and ongoing road sweeping efforts.

Cleanup progress and dune restoration has been fueled by work from park staff, New Jersey State Park Service and a series of cleanups involving partnerships like Friends of Island Beach State Park and New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.

For more on Island Beach State Park, visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html

For an application for a Mobile Sport Fishing Vehicle Annual Permit, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/docs/island_beach_permit%20revised%2012-12.pdf

For more on New Jersey's State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites, please visit:http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/index.html