BERKELEY – Ocean County officials are urging the state to give New Jersey residents a head start when purchasing vehicle access permits for Island Beach State Park, saying locals are routinely shut out as passes sell out within minutes.
Island Beach State Park, known for its preserved shoreline, surf fishing and beach driving, offers a limited number of vehicle permits each year. County leaders say demand continues to far exceed availability, and many of the permits end up in the hands of out-of-state buyers while New Jersey taxpayers are left without access.
“Ocean County is proud to host some of New Jersey’s most beautiful state parks, and we welcome the visitors who support our economy — but our residents must come first,” said Ocean County Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione, liaison to the county’s Division of Business Development and Tourism. “They help fund these parks, and they deserve priority access. New Jerseyans should not have to compete with out-of-state applicants for access to their own state parks.”
In a resolution sent to the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Parks and Forestry, the Board of Commissioners is asking for a short, residents-only registration window before general sales open. County officials say the change would ensure fairer access for New Jerseyans who support the parks through taxes, fees and conservation programs.
Bacchione emphasized that the proposal would not reduce opportunities for tourists.
“We are not proposing to limit access,” she said. “We’re asking the state to sequence the process so New Jersey residents have a reasonable window to secure permits first. After that, the remaining permits can be made available to everyone. It’s a balanced, common-sense approach.”
County leaders say they will continue pressing for a policy shift, arguing it would help protect residents’ access to public lands and coastal resources they work to preserve.
