Akhil Castelli and Eric Locke
Staff Writers
In Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, they have a plan to keep beaches open and safe all summer. One lifeguard will remain on the stand while two others will patrol the beach and make sure everyone is maintaining a safe distance apart.
A town engineer determined that the beach can hold 197 groups in zones of 18 square feet, still allowing for six feet distances between each zone. The town is trying to open the beaches while keeping people safe Paul M. Kanitra, the mayor of Point Pleasant Beach told the New York Times: “We’re trying to make sure that we can safely open as much as possible, as quickly as possible.”
As the Coronavirus slowly begins to lose its hold over New York City, oceanfront towns in New Jersey and Connecticut are tentatively opening up for business on Memorial Day weekend. Certain communities on the beachfront like Nassau County are taking more prudent steps for safety, like making the beach accessible to residents only.
Not only has COVID-19 left devastating effects on communities, but it is also affecting the time-honored rhythms of summer at the Jersey Shore, a 130 mile stretch of extremely popular coastline. The Jersey Shore is considered an “economic engine” as well as a “cultural touchstone” for residents and tourists alike.
