No Bathing Allowed on Leonardo, Ideal Beaches

Middletown Township's Recreation Dept. announced Friday that the Township’s two beaches, Ideal Beach and Leonardo Beach, are open to the public but will not have lifeguards on duty this summer until further notice.

Due to conditions that may exist as a result of Superstorm Sandy, bathing is prohibited, the notice said. 

"We have been concerned that there could be submerged debris beyond the low tide line thus creating a safety concern for bathers," said Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger, via email. "There could be anything from cars, appliances, pieces of buildings, etc. These concerns present serious safety and liability issues." 

The mayor also said that a beach replenishment project between Keansburg to Pews Creek will be beginning over the summer, which will include sand being pumped onto the beachfront. 

Greta Siwiec of the Ideal Beach Community Association said on Friday, "I think the township is doing the right thing, and safety first. I wouldn't go in, myself."

Since the Oct. 29, 2012 storm, there have been five beach sweeps organized by the organization Clean Ocean Action in East Keansburg.

The volunteers have picked up mattress box springs, parts of boats, portable toilets, curtain rings, prescription bottles and pieces of furniture. "There are a lot of things that people can get hurt on," said Siwiec.

Fortunately, Ideal Beach's concession stand, lifeguard stand and bathhouse building (closed for a number of years) survived Sandy intact, she said.