NJ Threatens Ocean Grove With $25K In Fines For Keeping Beach Closed

OCEAN GROVE, NJ — The state of New Jersey is now dangling $25,000 in daily fines against Ocean Grove if they do not open access to their beaches on Sunday mornings during the summer.

Last Thursday, Oct. 12, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection sent this letter to the town of Ocean Grove, warning them the state could impose fines "not to exceed $25,000 per day" if the town does not remove the padlocks on the steps down to their main beach.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Ocean Grove padlocks the main beach staircase from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday mornings. The town only does this during the summer: The beaches are open at all hours of the day in fall and winter, as the population of Ocean Grove shrinks during the winter months, especially among the Methodists who use it as a summer seaside retreat.

On Oct. 2, Ocean Grove filed with the NJ Superior Court, seeking a permanent injunction that will prevent members of the public from entering the beach during those hours.

Their request is still proceeding in the courts.

For two years now, the state of New Jersey has told Ocean Grove it is breaking state law by closing public access to the beach for those few hours; New Jersey law says beaches must be accessible to the public 24/7. Over the past two years, the DEP sent Ocean Grove multiple notices warning them they are violating state law.

Meanwhile, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association President Michael Badger paints the issue as a war on religious freedom: He argues that the town of Ocean Grove is a Methodist religious retreat and all the land in town is owned by the Methodist Church. As such, the town is allowed to close public access to their beaches on Sunday mornings during the summer, he argues.

Prior: Ocean Grove 'Singled Out' By State For Sunday Beach Closure: Church (Sept. 2023)