Headed to the Jersey Shore this summer? Here's what to expect.
It's that time of year when swarms of residents flock to the Jersey Shore to have some fun in the sun.
New Jersey's beaches took a pounding last winter from two major storms. While angry seas whittled down several beaches to slim strips of sand, most are in good enough shape to be open on Memorial Day Weekend, state environmental officials said. And there are no water quality issues.
But don't expect to go swimming on Memorial Day Weekend -- the water is still frigid. However, it will finally feel like summer, with temperatures hovering in the mid 80s over the weekend.
Here are five things to know if you plan to visit the Jersey Shore this summer:
5. Beach replenishment continues
After a five month delay, beach replenishment on Long Beach Island resumed in early May. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. pulled its equipment out in December after completing work in Ship Bottom, Brant Beach and other parts of Long Beach Township.
Aerial view Holgate and Beach Haven Inlet on the southernmost tip of Long Beach Island. Several areas of the Jersey Shore have been hit hard by the most recent nor'easters and experienced significant beach erosion. 10/5/15 (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)Replenishment in Beach Haven is expected to finish by the first week in June, before Great Lakes moves south to Holgate at the southern tip of the island. Following the work in Holgate, the contractor is set to head north to North Beach and then to Loveladies in Long Beach Township to complete the project.
Beach replenishment is also ongoing in parts of Deal, just north of Asbury Park.
4. The recovery from Hurricane Sandy continues
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider cut through a ceremonial ribbon in early April to mark the reopening of the boardwalk, the last in New Jersey to reopen after Hurricane Sandy. The storm destroyed the boardwalk on the beach's southern end.
Local, county and state officials celebrated the reopening of the Long Branch boardwalk on April 11, 2016, more than three years after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)"There were a lot of times that I wanted it to get done already and where I was getting frustrated. But we also had to do it the right way, and we did," Schneider told NJ Advance Media in April. He said the city is primed for a record-breaking summer tourism season.
In Ocean Grove, officials said in early May the last piece of the promenade, just south of Asbury Park, should be completed by Memorial Day weekend.
Meanwhile, other shore towns are still filled with contractors working to rebuild homes, businesses and other oceanfront structures that were lost in the storm.
For example, beachgoers in Belmar will be able to witness the long-awaited rebuilding of two of the three boardwalk pavilions that were wiped out by Sandy. And in Sea Bright, several businesses have reopened since last Summer - including the popular McLoone's Rum Runner - while others are still under construction or waiting approval, such as Donovan's Reef and The Mad Hatter.
3. Shore towns could see a decrease in revenue
While Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said he expects his city to have a banner year, many of the other shore towns that enjoyed record years in beach revenue in 2015 could see a drop in revenue this year.
In Belmar, which brought in a record amount of beach revenue in 2015, Mayor Doherty explained why his borough doesn't expect 2016 to be as good.
"Belmar, like the rest of the Jersey Shore, had a phenomenal year last year and there were really two factors for that. First, we essentially had an extra week of summer because Memorial Day was about as early as it could be and Labor Day was about as late as is could be," Doherty said. "I also don't think it really rained on any weekend from July through September, which is extremely abnormal. So I think we're going to have a more typical year this year, which means less visitors and less revenue."
2. Parking
It will cost visitors to some shore towns a little more to park this year.
For the first time in Sea Bright, residents and visitors who park in any of the borough's municipal lots will have to pay. The pay-to-park requirement goes into effect the Friday before Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. The fee of $1 per hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. affects more than 600 parking spaces in the municipal lots.
A sign for an empty parking lot in Long Branch. (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)It will also cost a bit more to park in Asbury Park and Long Branch after those towns increased parking fees.
1. What's up with Atlantic City?
Bills to save the ailing tourism destination passed both houses of the State Legislature on Thursday and are headed to Gov. Chris Christie's desk. The package of bills gives the city's government up to five months to create a plan to balance the budget, and prevents a state takeover.
But beyond City Hall, Atlantic City's beaches will be bumping with three major headliners lined up for the summer: Jimmy Buffett, the Zac Brown Band and Florida Georgia Line. Eight of the city's casinos remain open, and booze could be allowed on the boardwalk.
A lifeguard boat sits on the beach in front of the closed Revel Casino September 15, 2014 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFP PHOTO/Don EmmertDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images NJ Advance Media reporters MaryAnn Spoto and Rob Spahr contributed to this report.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.