Sparked by a recent drowning off of Second Avenue beach, officials have decided to extend the city’s beach hours.
The beach opens at 9 a.m. each day. Closing time has been 5 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, with lifeguards staying later if crowds were especially large. Now, some lifeguards will stay until 6 p.m.on weekdays and until 7 p.m. on weekends, city manager Terence Reidy announced at last night’s council meeting.
In addition to these additional hours, some of the fire department’s emergency medical services [EMS] personnel will stand by at the beach from closing time until dusk, Reidy said.
Beach badges will not be required past 5 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, head lifeguard Joe Bongiovanni said, but officials will funnel swimmers to one beach to keep a closer watch on them.
“What we determined is right now, the essence of this is safety,” Reidy said. “Keeping badge-checkers on is a lot more expensive and the real focus is … ensuring the safety of people on the beach.”
Also, the beach department always has the option of adjusting beach hours based on crowds and weather, Bongiovanni said. For example, last Saturday, due to large crowds, both North End beach and Third Avenue stayed open late, Bonjavani said.
In terms of badge sales, the beach is doing “extremely well this season,” public maintenance director Garrett Giberson said. The city is about $154,000 ahead of last year in profits at this point, he said.
The incident prompting the extended hours occurred June 20, when five swimmers entered the water just after lifeguards left the beach. All but one was rescued. Bongiovanni was in his office doing work and Patricia Landers was driving home when both were alerted to the situation, and they returned to the beach to make the rescue.
They were able to recover all of the swimmers, except one who had entered the water to rescue his younger sister. His body was found submerged in 15 feet of water the next day.
Reidy read aloud a memo Giberson had written to Bongiovanni and Landers in recognition of their actions.
“I would like to convey to you on behalf of Asbury Park our deepest appreciation for your heroic and courageous manner,” Giberson’s memo read. “Your actions unquestionably saved the lives of four individuals caught in rough surf … I am proud to be associated with persons of your professional and personal character.”
