File/Ventnor City Beach Patrol
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR The Ventnor City Beach Patrol is gearing up for the summer season and will provide lifeguard coverage at four beaches starting Memorial Day weekend. Beaches at Suffolk Avenue, the location of Beach Patrol Headquarters, and Dorset, New Haven and Lafayette avenues will be staffed by lifeguards 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The Beach Patrol will add staffing to other locations until beach locations are fully staffed by the July 4 weekend. Beaches will be guarded daily until Labor Day at Suffolk, Dorset, New Haven, Lafayette, Vassar Square, Austin, Frankfort, Sacramento, Surrey, Buffalo and Washington avenues.
The Beach Patrol strongly advises the public to swim only at guarded beaches, and never after hours when most drowning incidents occur.
The city offers Americans with Disabilities Act access at ramps located at Suffolk, Dorset, Newport, Derby, Oxford and Somerset avenues. Surf chairs are available by reservation 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily by calling Beach Patrol Headquarters at 609-823-7948.
Handicapped accessible restrooms are located at the Suffolk Avenue tennis courts, the Fishing Pier at Cambridge Avenue, Newport Avenue playground, and behind the Ventnor Library at New Haven Avenue. Handicapped parking is available at Suffolk, Somerset, Newport and New Haven avenues using the metered kiosks.
Any other special access needs can be arranged by calling the Beach Patrol at 609-823-7948.
Sailboats and Hobie Cats can be registered for a fee on a seasonal basis at the Somerset Avenue beach. Contact City Clerk Lisa Hand at 609-823-7904 to obtain a permit.
Kayak launching is available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Princeton Avenue beach, which is an unguarded beach but supervised by lifeguards stationed on Sacramento Avenue.
Surfing is available during daylight hours next to the Fishing Pier at Cambridge Avenue.
Dogs are only allowed on the beach from 7-9 p.m. from May 15 to Sept. 30. Dogs must be on a leash and walked along the tide line. Dogs are not permitted on the boardwalk at any time, except to access the beach at crossovers. Dogs are permitted on the beach during daylight hours from Oct. 1 to May 15. They must be on a leash and walked at the tide line. Dog licenses are available at the City Clerk's Office, 609-823-7904.
Beach tags are required from Memorial Day to Labor Day and can be purchased at City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Ave., or on the beach from any beach badge inspector.
Seasonal tags are available at the pre-season rate of $10, $3.50 for seniors until June 1. Afterward, the cost increases to $20. Cash and credit cards accepted. Tags are free for active duty military and veterans with proper identification.
Tags can also be purchased in advance on a smart phone using the Viply app and picked up at City Hall or from the beach badge inspectors. A $1.64 processing fee to Viply will be applied for each tag at the time of purchase.
Download the Viply app at https://www.viplypass.com/ventnor-beach-badges/
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