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High Dunes/Clean Beaches

Beach Nesting Birds

Borough Regulations

Avalon has one of the only remaining high dune systems on the east coast. $4.00 DUNE WALKS, guided by Wetlands Institute staff, will be offered Wednesday at 9:00 A.M., June 18 - September 10, at 48th Street dune path. Also, enjoy five miles of clean, wide beaches. Please help keep Avalon Clean.

Two species of endangered nesting birds, Piping Plovers and Least Terns, visit Avalon each summer to nest in the sand, between 8th - 23rd Streets and 43rd - 60th Streets. Certain areas will be posted as nesting begins and access will be prohibited. During the nesting season, beach raking will be coordinated to avoid destruction of nests. Some areas of wrack line (high tide "grassy" line) may be left to provide a feeding area for chicks. A brochure about these birds is available at Community Hall (30th St. & the beach) or call a state wildlife biologist at (609) 628-2103.

Beach Tags: To partially offset the cost of maintaining and protecting its beaches for your enjoyment, Avalon requires that beach tags be worn by all using the beach, 12 yrs. or older, 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. , June 1 through September 2, 2007. Pre-season beach tags may be purchased weekends beginning March 31 at the Beach Tag Booth at Community Hall. Other beach tags may be purchased daily April 30 - September 2 at the booth on or beginning June 1 from beach tag inspectors on the beach. Beach tag fees are: pre-season (purchase on or before May 31) $17.00; season tag (effective June 1) $22.00; weekly (Saturday through Saturday) $10.00 and daily $5.00. Reciprocity of beach tags is observed between Avalon and Stone Harbor.

Protected Beaches:

For your protection, bathing and swimming are permitted only at protected beaches where lifeguards are on duty 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM June 9 through August 19. Use of rafts and surfboards are permitted only at designated beaches.

(A) Between Saturday, May 26, 2007 through Friday, June 8, 2007:
Because of a reduced workforce of lifeguards, not all protected beaches will be covered and, therefore, between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, prevailing time, excluding inclement weather, bathing will be restricted to only those beaches where lifeguards are on duty.
 
(B) Between Saturday, June 9, 2007 through Sunday, August 19, 2007:
Lifeguards will be on duty between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, prevailing time, excluding inclement weather, at all designated beaches, and bathing will be restricted to such designated beaches.
 
(C) Between Monday, August 20, 2007 through Saturday, September 9, 2007:
There will only be a limited number of lifeguards on duty. They will be assigned to one (1) or more designated bathing beaches as the number of available personnel permits and circumstances may require.

Beach Conduct: Picnicking on the beach is permitted. However, please place refuse in trash and in recycling containers. It is illegal to litter. Fires, alcoholic beverage, bottles, glass, sharp objects, loud noise, indecent language, or actions are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. No sleeping on the beach or boardwalk from sunset to sunrise. Trespassing on the dunes and in areas posted for endangered Beach Nesting Birds is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Please use the paths provided.

Boardwalk: Avalon has a one-half mile boardwalk for your walking pleasure. BICYCLES are permitted on the boardwalk ONLY between 5 AM & 10 AM. Motorized bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, and mopeds are NOT PERMITTED on the boardwalk ANYTIME.

Public Docks: Use of public docks is at the risk of the user. Using public docks during darkness, alcoholic beverages and picnicking are prohibited.

Public Parking: Public parking is available in Borough lots at 30th & Dune Drive next to the Public Safety Building; 32nd & Dune Drive behind the Municipal Building; 28th - 30th Street and the beach; and on the corner of 21st Street and 5th Avenue.

Public Restrooms: Public restroom are located in Borough Hall (32nd & Dune Drive), Public Safety Building (31st & Dune Drive), Community Hall (30th & the beach), Tennis Buildings (8th & 39th Street), 10th & Dune Drive, and 30th Street and the beach (next to the Tot Lot).

Handicapped Access: Ramps to the boardwalk are located at 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 26th, 27th, 29th, 32nd and handicapped ramps at 24th and 30th Streets. There are ramps from the boardwalk to the beach at 30th Street, to the beach at 8th & Avalon Avenue and to an observation platform and to the beach at 80th Street. Hard packed gravel paths from the street to the beach are located at 32nd, 38th and 60th Street. Handicapped parking is available at 30th and 32nd Streets. There are surf chairs available for the disabled at 8th, 30th, and 80th Streets. Please call the Avalon Beach Patrol at 967-7587 to reserve a surf chair. Handicapped accessible bayfront piers are located at 8th, 23rd, 24th, 33rd, 37th, 53rd, and 57th Streets. Handicapped restrooms are located at 30th and the beach and at the 10th Street & Dune Drive Recreation Field. The Senior Citizen Center (31st Street & Dune Drive), Borough Hall (32nd Street & Dune Drive) and Community Hall (30th Street & the beach).

Skate Park: The Skate Park is located at 29th & Boardwalk. The schedule for the park is Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to Dusk and Sunday, Noon to Dusk. Any questions call 967-3066, Avalon Community Hall.

Dogs and Cats: Dogs and cats must be licensed; an animal control warden is employed by the Borough. DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE BEACH, BOARDWALK OR DUNES ANYTIME between March 1st and September 30th. In other areas of the Borough, dogs must be kept on a leash (when not confined) and their droppings must be retrieved immediately by the person in charge of the dogs.

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