Island Beach State Park

Island Beach State Park
Location	Berkeley Township, New Jersey
Nearest city	Seaside Park, New Jersey
Coordinates	39°54′18.98″N 74°04′53.15″W / 39.9052722°N 74.0814306°WCoordinates: 39°54′18.98″N 74°04′53.15″W / 39.9052722°N 74.0814306°W
Area	3,003 acres (1,215 ha)
Official website

Island Beach State Park is a New Jersey state park located just south of Seaside Park on the Barnegat Peninsula in Berkeley Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. Most of the park encompasses the former borough of Island Beach.

The park is the largest reserve of undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States.^[1] The park is divided into two areas. The Island Beach Northern Natural Area covers 659 acres (2.7 km²), some of which is restricted to the public. The Southern Natural Area is much larger at 1,237 acres (5 km²). The park includes the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone, which includes about 1,600 acres (6 km²) of tidal marshes, creeks, ponds, and open water.

Coming in from the sea-front, a visitor ascends over a large primary dune covered in tall grasses and down into a narrow maritime forest, consisting of many tall bushes and short trees including holly, goldenrod and black cherry. Approaching the bay side, one finds reeds and a muddy estuary that is home to blue crabs and herons and other marine birds. The park is an excellent site for bird watching with osprey nests and bird blinds set up.^[2] The Barnegat Inlet is located at the southern tip of the park, separating the Barnegat Peninsula from Long Beach Island.

Swimming, kayaking, and fishing are permitted in some areas of the park. Four wheel drive vehicles are permitted onto the beach with a permit.

Flora

Among the trees found in the park are Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida), American Holly (Ilex opaca), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) and Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana). These trees appear in different areas of the park, depending on the specifics of salt and wind exposure. They are often stunted, compared to inland examples of their species, and display the "salt spray horizon" effect, with the side facing the ocean sheared tightly by the environment, with their westerly sides tending to grow taller. Thus, the trees and shrubs often take on wedge-like shapes with their low side on the east.

Shrubs in the park include Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica and Myrica cerifera), Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Beach plum (Prunus maritima), Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), Red and Black Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia and Aronia melanocarpa), Heather (Hudsonia ericoides) and Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). Every September the park hosts an exciting Beach Plum Festival, replete with tours, foods, music and great atmosphere.

There are also many grasses, forbs and herbaceous plants.

Many of these plants can be seen at the nature center, one mile (1.6 km) into the park, in a display garden, which is located by a freshwater wetland.

Bathing beach at Island Beach State Park on a sunny summer day

Most visitors come for the pristine white sand beach, the ocean waters, and natural backdrop, in contrast to the developed and boardwalk-lined beaches to the north and south.

Attractions

Island Beach State Park encompasses many miles of beach; the northernmost have life guards. People can swim, surf, fish, and kayak in the park. The park also allows dune buggy access in the southern portion of the park. There is also a boardwalk extending from Barnegat Bay to the main road allowing boaters access to the beach. On the bayside of Island Beach State Park is an area called Tices Shoal, where boaters gather together and anchor.

See also

• Barnegat Peninsula

References

1. Island Beach Northern Natural Area and Southern Natural Area, accessed November 17, 2006
2. New Jersey Birds: Island Beach State Park

External links

• Island Beach State Park a locally maintained site about the park
• Nature Programs at Island Beach State Park - Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey

To the North: Seaside Park	Beaches of New Jersey	To the South Barnegat Light