A year ago -- which seems like two or three centuries ago right about now -- we were swimsuit shopping, bikini waxing, and boogie board-buying in preparation for the mother of all holidays: Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff to the summer that’s such a big deal, it lasts a full three-day weekend, and often involves lots of beach time.
This year, our summer plans have shifted just a tiny bit, but there’s good news ahead: Garden State beaches and boardwalks are officially going to be open this season ... with restrictions, of course (four words that will likely follow every piece of opening news from now until the end of time). You can read the legalese here, but basically Governor Murphy has declared, that, as of Friday, May 22, beaches and lakefronts can indeed be open to the public for the summer, but are required to limit the number of people visiting (likely done with a limited number of beach badges and capacity decided by each individual town) in order to allow for proper social distancing. Families and households can hang out together, but must stay at least six feet from other groups and individuals on the beach. While masks won’t be mandatory, Murphy said he recommends wearing them when possible. Swimming is allowed, lifeguards will be on duty, and restrooms will be operational.
While a lot of the boardwalk fun our kids love – like rides, arcades, and games where you win those cheap stuffed animals after shelling out $75 in wheel spins – will be sadly shuttered, boardwalk eateries are allowed to be open for takeout and delivery. It’s not exactly the summer fun we dreamed of, but it’s a start ...
