Bummin’ About Beach Fees: Long Beach To Raise Beach-Goer Rates For Non-Residents

Perhaps it’s my “affinity” for California that draws me to this Long Island “city”. But, since I was a teen, this westward location has had a hold of my heart. In fact, I’ve often contemplated moving there, and regret that I didn’t. Still, it never stopped me from making the 45-minutes schlep (almost an hour and a half when I worked out in Bohemia) to enjoy the ambiance and scenery of its boardwalk and beaches. For those of you who haven’t figured it out, I’m referring to Long Beach, and while it attracts an abundance of beachgoers, it may be losing some of its appeal.

According to officials, there was recently a proposal for increasing both parking and beach fees, but the measure has currently been put on temporary hold.

Reports reveal numbers that would mean residents seeing double the parking fees to $60 dollars rather than the current $25; and daily beach passes will cost beachgoers $10, up $3 dollars from the current $7 fee.

However, residents will be cut some slack on beach fees, paying only$50 for a family summer pass, a reduction of $10 from the current $60 fee. Non-resident family passes however will go up $10 from $90 to $100. And, according to the City Manager, the new costs are expected to go into effect July 1. And, he added that the city would also increase security and law enforcement, especially on and by the beach, expecting to hire an additional 20 special enforcement officers to be called “specials”, in addition to the 80 added “specials” hired last summer.

These “specials” officers are college criminal justice students carrying radios connecting them to police and given the authority to cite and write summonses.