Belmar boardwalk on March 26, before today’s boardwalk closing. NJ.com photo
Zombies walk the boards in A. Park. What if they come to the Grove now that the other towns boards are closed.? Paul Goldfinger photo
Out of concern for effective social distancing, the Shore towns of Spring Lake, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Asbury Park and Ocean City have closed their boardwalks. The two B’s did so today.
According to NJ.com, “The popular Monmouth County destinations are the latest in a string of Jersey Shore towns to take similar action as the weather warms and crowds grow in possible violation of a state order to avoid large gatherings. As the number of coronavirus cases and deaths climbs, officials continue to report large gatherings at beaches and parks, with some people unwilling to follow repeated calls for social distancing.
The Bradley Beach Mayor said, “Should we see social distancing not take place on the beach, it would have to be closed as well,” he wrote. “We’re counting on everyone to be smart and to be safe.”
There is a tendency for clumps of people to form into close groups on boardwalks, especially as cloistered, bored people head out for air and exercise.
Some think it’s OK for a group to form for socializing on the boards as long as the 6 foot spacing is maintained. But, the 6 foot distancing rule is for when you leave your home for a quick run to get essentials or for a walk.
“But the benefit is lost if a group stands around and socializes while maintaining the 6 foot distance.” This opinion is from Dr. Maria Ciminelli, the president of the NJ Academy of Family Physicians. (NJ.com)
Blogfinger heard from an Ocean Grove citizen today regarding his concern that the virus could spread from close contacts on the OG boardwalk. The other towns, having closed their boardwalks, would likely have a more successful distancing result if OG did the same.
He believes that the CMA privately owned OG boardwalk should be closed and that the Governor should mandate a closure if Neptune Township doesn’t pressure the Camp Meeting Association to do so. He thinks that the Governor doesn’t realize that the OG boards are privately owned.
Grovers: What is your opinion? See our poll below.
Do you have a picture of the OG boardwalk for March 26th ?
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We have no photo of the OG boardwalk dated March 26. Maybe one of our readers will help.—Paul@Blogfinger.
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Editor’s note on March 31, 2020:
Beach and Boardwalk: Lavallette, Seaside Heights, Island Heights, Ocean City, Sea Isle City,
Boardwalk only: Asbury Park, Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Belmar, Bradley Beach.
This is not a comprehensive list.
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The boardwalks in Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach are wider than the sidewalks in Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach.
I am unconvinced that now doing my daily 5K on the sidewalks and moving onto the roadway to maintain my social distancing from others decreases my risk. I’d think it would result in a net increase in my risk of sickness, injury and death, both from coronavirus and from motor vehicles.
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After seeing nothing, not even a caution tape around the torn up boardwalk after Sandy, it doesn’t surprise me they dont close it.
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Why hasn’t OG closed their boardwalk yet… all of the other towns have?
Also, do you think they are going to delay opening the tents to avoid human to human contact? Main street is like a ghost town……
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Kathleen: We did pose that “why question,” but we didn’t really expect an answer. The CMA has always been reticent to discuss its motives. For example, the CMA spokesman, Michael Badger, has been saying quite a bit lately about parking, but he never discusses his real motives. He likes to put up a smokescreen that talks about benefits for everyone. But as far as the boardwalk closure issue is concerned, we have heard not a peep. He likes to be interviewed by the Asbury Park Press and the Coaster, so maybe they will ask him “why?
Or maybe our poll on this subject will get him to say something since the public health is at stake. And why hasn’t the mayor of Neptune spoken out? The Township has always had a “hands off” attitude towards the CMA.
If any of our readers catch a sea breeze floating some information westward, please let us know.
And as for the tents, we have no information, but it is an interesting question.
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Bob: You have another option: design a custom route for yourself that takes you through the parks in town and on the Pathway and down avenues where you might step onto grassy strips. You could also run on the beach and around our two lakes and on the Broadway median. And it’s not likely that many of the same folks who would go on the boards, with the lovely views, would, Instead, walk on the sidewalks, and many of our side streets would be wide open for you.
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Opening Ocean Grove’s Tent City this summer is tantamount to infecting OG in a meaningful way. This is a high-risk community with our seniors, and we will lose many of them if the tents open. Tent city brings in families from all over the country living in very tight quarters and as time passes we will become acutely aware of how misinformed the general public is on the coronavirus risks.
By the fall the number of deaths in the US will be extraordinary, containment is a coin toss, a vaccine is two years away, and life will not be returning back to normal.
Hopefully the OGCMA puts lives ahead of their very own “micro-economy” and keeps them closed this summer season.
Wimbledon was cancelled; Tent City needs to be closed; Great Auditorium needs to be closed.
Self isolating is the only means of survival. Kathleen asked the most informative question I’ve read on this blog.
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I agree with Kathleen. It is dangerous to allow the tents to be utilized this spring if at all this year.
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Has there been any communication from the camp meeting about the tent situation or anything for that matter since the pandemic started? Or is it like during Hurricane Sandy where no services were provided at all? Please do not purport do be the pillars of the community then dissapear the moment things become difficult. Takers.
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