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Members of the Asbury Park community gathered on the 8th Avenue beach Saturday to participate in the 8th annual Asbury Park Family Day at the Beach.

Organized by the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation – a world-wide non-profit environmental organization that works to preserve and protect beaches as natural resources – the event serves as the local chapter’s way to give back to the community.

“Eleven years ago, Asbury Park was the only town that was illegal to surf in,” said Joseph Woerner, a member and the Surfrider Foundation and one of the event organizers. “The Surfrider Foundation ran a campaign to make surfing legal.”

They succeeded in their efforts. Ten years ago, the city council changed the law and established a dedicated surfing beach on the north end of Asbury Park.

As a thank you to the city, the Surfrider Foundation decided to run a yearly surf clinic, Woerner said.

“For the first two years, we had corporate sponsorship that made us advertise in surf shops around Monmouth County. We had hundreds of kids from all over Monmouth County show up for free surf lessons,” Woerner said. “It wasn’t really what we were looking to do.”

After those first two clinics, the Surfrider Foundation decided to change the event to a family day and focused their efforts to bring local residents out to the beach.

“There’s no advertising done,” said Djar Horn, a foundation member and one of the event’s initial organizers. “All of this is put together through flyers and word of mouth.”

Beyond being a give back to the city, the day is also focused on the enjoyment and protection of a local, natural resource.

“A lot of local families feel uncomfortable going to the beach,” Woerner said. “Part of the goal is also to make the kids and families more comfortable at the beach so that they can enjoy the natural resource in their town.”

“They need to know – this is a resource that is yours,” Horn said. “That is the reason this day was established.”

On Saturday, the city of Asbury Park waived the beach badge fee on the 8th Avenue beach and 150 local residents – 109 of them children – received beach safety tips, surfing and fishing lessons, participated in a costal life treasure hunt, played games, listened to live music and took part in a beach clean-up.

Local businesses and sponsors donated food and provided funds for each participant to receive a Family Day at the Beach T-shirt.

Syasia Kendle, a Neptune resident and teacher at the Alphabets Preschool Center in Asbury Park, found out about Family Day through flyers that were given to the school to pass out to parents. She brought her two children, ages two and 10.

“My 10-year old loves the water,” she said. “It’s awesome; surfing is a new experience for them.”

Asbury resident Tracy Estes brought his 7-year-old son, Miles. The two had come the year before as well.

“We’re so fortunate to be able to come here and enjoy this great natural resource is in our own back yard,” Estes said. “[Miles] has cousins in the mid-west that don’t have the opportunity to enjoy something like this. It’s a shame to take it for granted.”

Joe Mairo, a 15-year member of the Surfrider Foundation, brought fishing poles and gave instructions on how to fish on the coastline.

“This day is all about showing [the kids] what a great resource is right here,” he said.

Council members John Moor and Amy Quinn came to volunteer their time and take part in the beach day activities.

“It’s a great event. They really put together something special here,” said Quinn.

“It’s a great day,” Moor said. “I thank Surfrider, especially Joe Woerner.”

Mayor Myra Campbell also attended the event.

“This is gold,” she said, “This is what should happen. [The families] need this exposure to know this jewel is in their front yard.”

 Click here to view a Sun Facebook photo album of Family Day at the Beach.

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Photo at top: Tracy Estes and his son, Miles, attempt to build a fort along the coastline.

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