One of the few remaining large expanses of undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey is protected within the limits of Island Beach State Park. The park is a nearly ten mile stretch of the southern tip of the Barnegat Peninsula. The Barnegat Inlet is at its terminal end, and on the other side you can see the Barnegat Lighthouse.
The park is divided in two by a central highway that runs approximately two-thirds of the way through the park. To the east, just above the ever-present dunes that separate the beach from the rest of the island, is the Atlantic Ocean. To the west of the dunes there are several habitats. These include freshwater ponds, maritime forests, and saltwater marshes. The western edge of the park is defined by the shores of Barnegat Bay.
Island Beach escaped intensive development in part because the original access to the peninsula, via a railroad, crossed the bay further north of the park entrance and from there headed north to Point Pleasant NJ. Years later, a major property development plan failed when the depression ruined the economy. Any possibility of speculating on land plans that involved the sale of houses and land on the coast was simply not feasible. Today there are some buildings in the park. This includes the governor’s mansion, public facilities for park visitors, and some private maintenance buildings. There are also some old houses that still exist from the days before the park was created.
The park receives more than a million visitors a year. A large part of these people arrive in the summer and head to the beach to swim halfway through the park. The lifeguard protected beach is quite popular. Another large segment of visitors is made up of fishermen and women. They come to fish in the waves off the beach. With a beach buggy permit and a four-wheel drive vehicle, anglers can drive on the beach and even stay in the park after the gate closes at 9pm.
Other recreational activities at Island Beach State Park include wildlife viewing (lots of bird watchers!), Kayaking, hiking, and people coming for some of the park’s planned activities. Probably the biggest events held in the park are the Beach Plum Festival and the annual Surf Fishing Tournament. School groups and other educational parties also use the park.
The park’s relatively pristine nature means that it is a haven for wildlife and plants that should do well in the barrier island environment, but have been pushed out of many of the developed beach areas. Overall, the park is a true gem, in terms of showing what all of New Jersey’s beaches would look like if they weren’t covered with lodges, houses, and other sights that we enjoy when we’re on shore.