Citizens speak out for and against the plan, which takes effect next Memorial Day weekend
PETERSBURG — Starting next summer, beachgoers in Strathmere will need to purchase tags to access the strand.
Township Committee voted 4-0 on Aug. 24 to institute a beach tag program next summer. Committeeman Zach Palombo was absent.
Officials have been discussing the issue for months. Township Administrator Jimmy Van Zlike delivered a presentation during Township Committee’s workshop session July 13, outlining what he said was the need to offset the expenses of maintaining and guarding the beaches.
At the time, he said the township had spent more than a half-million dollars this year on the beach and related services, including wages and pensions for the Upper Township Beach Patrol, as well as another $2.1 million in matching beach replenishment funds.
Committeemen Tyler Casaccio and Palombo, who served on the ad hoc beach tag subcommittee, determined that the program would benefit taxpayers.
Tags will be required for all users 16 and older on Atlantic Ocean, Corson’s Inlet and Whale Beach beaches from the Friday before Memorial Day until the end of September.
Eric Weeks from Strathmere called the Upper Township Beach Patrol “a completely bloated program. It’s way out of control.” He said it’s interesting that the plan to institute beach tags comes up only after a replenishment project. He said he was a lifeguard from 1978-83 and “we had that same talk back then, too.”
Weeks asked how the township planned to enforce the requirement for tags, how much the township hoped to make and where the money would be used.
Van Zlike said the plan calls for four beach tag checkers working random four-hour shifts. They would earn $22 an hour to walk the beaches with handheld computers to sell tags to anyone not having one, for a total cost of $17,000 for the season.
Corson noted that beach tag revenue can be used only for beach maintenance operating and capital expenses.
The program is expected to raise about $320,000 in revenue from preseason ($30), daily ($10), weekly ($20) and seasonal ($45) tags. Preseason tags can be purchased from Oct. 1 until the Monday following Presidents Day in mid-February. There is no cost for tags for military members or veterans.
Corson said the island has 31 beach entrances and that it would not be cost-effective to post a checker at each entrance for eight hours a day, such is done in other municipalities.
The mayor said similar to parking enforcement, the township plans to have a roving patrol at random times.
“The beach tagger schedule is purposely ambiguous so that way nobody can try to cheat the system,” Casaccio said, adding there would be a roving patrol 30 to 40 hours per week.
Corson said the township plans to hire three youths as well as an older supervisor, who would handle issues in which people refused to comply. He said there will be a backup plan involving the State Police if necessary.
David Chisholm attended the meeting to endorse the concept.
“I think one of the things that we need to remember is that the services on the beach come out of the taxes and the more people on our beach, the more services are needed. So I view the beach tags like offsetting taxes. No one likes to pay taxes, so we do need to develop an alternate resource,” he said.
Chisholm believes having free beaches attracts “an influx of people” who spend their money elsewhere and sit on the island’s beaches for free.
John Mansall from Strathmere wanted to know whether the checkers would enforce the dog ban on the beaches and complained that people are bringing grills to have a barbecue.
“All of these things you shouldn’t do, they’re doing,” he said.
Corson said beachgoers can call animal control or code enforcement if there are dogs on the beach.
Solicitor John Amenhauser said the checkers would be “instructed to look out for other violations” and could notify the proper authorities.
Sally Callahan, noting her husband’s family has lived on the island for more than 50 years, spoke out against beach tags.
“I appreciate the financial pressures you’re under and I understand that a lot of this money goes to Strathmere, but I don’t think that a beach tag program is the right answer,” she said. “We’re not Avalon, we’re not Stone Harbor, we’re not Sea Isle City, and I don’t think we should try that. We are unique; we are special.”
Callahan said charging for beach tags would harm the community.
“You’re taking away what is the pure character and uniqueness of our town, and it’s heartbreaking to see that change,” she said. “I do believe that all beaches should be free and I think that this form of public access is something that Upper Township should be proud of preserving.”
Callahan also said many of the towns that charge for beach tags have bathroom facilities but Strathmere does not.
Mayor Curtis Corson said the township had to demolish its beach patrol headquarters this past summer because it was in danger of toppling into the ocean, and noted that public bathrooms are envisioned as part of a new headquarters.
Callahan said the beach tag revenue represents a drop in the bucket regarding the cost to maintain the beaches, saying the township should look for other sources.
Corson noted that Township Committee recently approved cannabis sales and has dedicated a third of that revenue toward beach maintenance.
“We are looking at other means of revenue,” he said.
Fred Duffy of Strathmere, who grew up on Long Beach Island, said Surf City has had beach tags since 1967.
“I don’t agree that beach tags will change the qualities of Strathmere and I think it’s a good idea I strongly support,” Duffy said.
Richard Schutte likewise spoke up in favor of beach tags.
“I support beach tags for a number of reasons, primarily the economic reasons, and I hope that your estimates are light because I have a feeling that you may end up finding this is a decent money-making proposition and help offset some of the costs,” he said.
Schutte also thinks it will help cut down on the number of people visiting the island.
“I also think it’s going to help some with crowd control, which is a big issue for us,” he said.
Living shoreline, fitness studio at Amanda’s Field
In other business, Van Zlike reported that bids have been solicited for the 2026 road improvement program and the living shoreline project in Strathmere. Bid opening is set for Sept. 9.
Van Zlike said the submissions would be reviewed and contracts awarded quickly so that construction could move forward.
“These projects represent direct municipal reinvestment in core neighborhoods, infrastructure, road quality and vital coastal shoreline protection for Upper Township residents,” he said.
The fitness studio at Amanda’s Field is now operational, but the township already is having an issue with how it is being used.
Committeeman Sam Palombo thanked Cape May County for partnering with the township on the project.
“I can’t say that I worked out on it — I looked at it — but everyone that has used it has had a great time doing so, so I look forward to actually using it,” he said.
“The fitness court is absolutely spectacular,” Corson said. “I did not use it, nor do I ever see myself using it, but it is a spectacular piece of equipment.
Van Zlike said there have been reports of people riding dirt bikes on the fitness studio.
“No vehicles on the fitness studio — four-wheelers, dirt bikes. That seems pretty apparent, maybe obvious, but there have been reports,” he said. “If you see something, say something to get the vehicles off of the fitness court. Obviously the less vehicle traffic on there, the longer these things will last.”
A new skatepark is getting under way at Amanda’s Field. Van Zlike said demolition of the existing park is scheduled for Sept. 21 and the commencement of construction of the new one for Sept. 28. It is expected to take about three months to complete.
The annual Fall Fest is scheduled for Oct. 4 at Amanda’s Field.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by PATTI HEISLER/For the Sentinel
