Point Pleasant Beach is Ready for Business

The private entities that own the most popular beaches in Point Pleasant Beach are assuring the public that the beaches and the ocean are safe and clean.

The strong push to recover from Superstorm Sandy has resulted in the beaches, boardwalk, fishing and boating areas, downtown, hotels, motels and house rentals all being open and ready for business.

With the exception of a few restaurants and the former Risden's eatery and bathhouse on New Jersey Avenue, the popular visitor attractions are back.

The five most popular beaches in Point Pleasant Beach are Jenkinson's, Risden's, Martell's, Bradshaw's and the Maryland Avenue beach, which are all staffed with lifeguards.

Parking, in most cases, consists of paid parking lots and metered spots, with free spots on some streets on the other side of Ocean Avenue, for those who don't mind walking a bit further with their umbrellas and beach bags.

Jenkinson's

This is the big beach in town, with amusement rides, arcade games and a number of stands hawking everything from frozen yogurt and hot dogs to souvenir T-shirts and caged hermit crabs.

• Beach badge prices: Free for kids younger than 5; 5 to 11 years old, $2 weekdays and weekends; 12 and older: $8 weekdays; $9 weekends. It's $45 for a season pass and $35 for a half-season for ages 5 to 11; $90 for a season and $60 for a half-season for ages 12 and older; and $65 for a season pass for seniors 62 and older. There is no half-season badge for seniors. For information about group rates and chair and umbrella rentals, see the Jenkinson's website.
• Food and drink: Coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages allowed on beach; Alcohol and glass prohibited.
• Bathrooms:  In first aid building and arcade
• Lifeguard hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For more information, visit Jenkinson's website or call 732-892-0600.

Martell's

• Beach badge prices: Free for kids 11 and younger; $6 weekdays, $7.50 weekends, $100 per season for those 12 and older.
• No food, coolers, glass, frisbees, balls, boogie boards or thong swimwear allowed according to the company's web site. Food and beverages can be bought at Martell's restaurants and bars.
• Lifeguard hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Bathrooms: inside restaurants.
• Tiki bar and pier: The pier was sawed off by Superstorm Sandy, but has since been restored back to its original length and width.

For more information, call 732-892-0131 or email info@tikibar.com.

Risden's

Patch has emailed the owner of Risden's, but never got a response regarding this season's beach badge prices. A Patch editor also visited Risden's on May 15 and was told the information would be provided that day, but it was not. If Risden's calls us with updated information, we will update this story. This is the information from 2012.

• Beach badge prices: Ages 4 to 11, $2 daily and weekend; ages 12 and older, $8 daily and weekend; and for $13 per day, visitors get a beach badge and access to the showers in the bath house. For seasonal passes, it's $85; for first half of the season, which is Memorial Day through July 31, $65; and for Aug. 1 through Labor Day, $50.
• Food and drink: Coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages permitted. Later in the summer, on a date not yet specified, food will be available for purchase at the concession stand at the bath house between Forman and Trenton avenues. The eatery and bath house on New Jersey Avenue will not be operational this summer due to heavy damage from Superstorm Sandy.
• Bathrooms: Inside bath house
• Lifeguard hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 732-892-8412.

Maryland Avenue Beach

This is the only section of the beach in Point Pleasant Beach that is owned by the town. It's at the southern end of Point Beach, next to Bay Head. To get there from south of the beach, take Ocean Avenue heading north, turn right on Michelle Lane, right on Beacon Lane, find a parking spot, and then, on foot, turn left on Maryland.

The town contracts with Aqua-Serve to run the beach, including staffing it with lifeguards and beach badge checkers.

• Beach badge prices: free for those 12 and younger; $8 daily for 13 and older; $90 for a seasonal pass for 13 and older; a combination season pass for the beach and pool (at the end of West Lake Avenue, Bay Head) is $320 while a pool pass alone is $280.
• Food and drink: Coolers allowed. Food can be purchased at a few establishments, including 7-11 and Marlin's Cafe, on the other side of Ocean Avenue.
• Parking: Free on Beacon and Michelle lanes, but those spots are snatched up fast by residents who live on those streets and their guests on weekends and holidays. Metered spots on Ocean Avenue, free spots on the other side of Ocean Avenue.
• Bathrooms: Two portable toilets provided by Aqua-Serve.
• Lifeguard hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bradshaw's Beach

• Beach badge prices: free for ages 3 and younger; $8 daily for ages 4 and older; $90 for a season pass; a combination season pass for the beach and pool (at the end of West Lake Avenue, Bay Head) is $320 while a pool pass alone is $280.
• Food and drink: Coolers allowed. Food can be purchased at a few establishments, including 7-11 and Marlin's Cafe, on the other side of Ocean Avenue.
• Parking: Metered spots in front of beach on Washington Avenue to Ocean Avenue and along Ocean. Free street spots across Ocean.
• Bathrooms: Portable toilet
• Lifeguard hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on Maryland and Bradshaw's, call Aqua-Serve at 732-295-2091.