Island Beach State Park
Encyclopedia
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. 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 1237 acres (5 km²). The park includes the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone, which includes about 1600 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 heron
s and other marine birds. The park is an excellent site for bird watching with osprey nests and bird blinds set up. The Barnegat Inlet
is located at the southern tip of the park, separating the Barnegat Peninsula
from Long Beach Island
.
Swimming, kayak
ing, and fishing are permitted in some areas of the park. Four wheel drive vehicles are permitted onto the beach with a permit.
), 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
), Highbush blueberry (Vaccineum 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 a great atmosphere.
There are also many grasses, forb
s and herbaceous plants that delight the eye and olfactory senses.
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. One often thinks that the dunes are a barren environment, but there is natural diversity which is enjoyed by the native wildlife and the astute visitor.
Still, the majority of the public comes for the pristine white sand beach, the ocean waters, and a wholesome natural backdrop - in contrast to the developed and boardwalk-lined beaches to the north and south.
to the main road allowing boaters access to the beach.
Seaside Park, New Jersey
Seaside Park is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,579. Seaside Park is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.The first inhabitants...
on the Barnegat Peninsula
Barnegat Peninsula
The Barnegat Peninsula, also known as the Island Beach Peninsula and colloquially as "the barrier island", is a 20-mile long, narrow barrier peninsula located in Ocean County, New Jersey, that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a vacation destination and summer colony area and...
in Berkeley Township
Berkeley Township, New Jersey
Berkeley Township is a Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population had increased to a record high of 41,255....
, Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry
The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is responsible for the management and operation of New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas, as well as for the more than 50 historic sites and districts...
. Most of the park encompasses the former borough of Island Beach
Island Beach, New Jersey
Island Beach was a borough that existed in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, from 1933 to 1965.Island Beach was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 23, 1933, from portions of Berkeley Township, Lacey Township and Ocean Township. The referendum that...
.
The park is the largest reserve of undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States. 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 1237 acres (5 km²). The park includes the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone, which includes about 1600 acres (6 km²) of tidal marshes
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
, 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
Holly
Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
, goldenrod
Goldenrod
Solidago, commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America. There are also a few species native to Mexico, South...
and black cherry
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina, commonly called black cherry, wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a woody plant species belonging to the genus Prunus...
. Approaching the bay side, one finds reeds and a muddy estuary that is home to blue crabs and heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s and other marine birds. The park is an excellent site for bird watching with osprey nests and bird blinds set up. The Barnegat Inlet
Barnegat Inlet
Barnegat Inlet is a small inlet connecting the Barnegat Bay with the Atlantic Ocean in Ocean County, New Jersey. It separates Island Beach State Park and the Barnegat Peninsula from Long Beach Island...
is located at the southern tip of the park, separating the Barnegat Peninsula
Barnegat Peninsula
The Barnegat Peninsula, also known as the Island Beach Peninsula and colloquially as "the barrier island", is a 20-mile long, narrow barrier peninsula located in Ocean County, New Jersey, that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a vacation destination and summer colony area and...
from Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island is a barrier island and summer colony along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States...
.
Swimming, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing, 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 virginianaJuniperus virginiana
Juniperus virginiana is a species of juniper native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, east of the Great Plains...
), Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida), American Holly (Ilex opaca), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis
Amelanchier canadensis
Amelanchier canadensis is a species of Amelanchier native to eastern North America in Canada from Newfoundland west to southern Ontario, and in the United...
), Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana
Diospyros virginiana
Diospyros virginiana, commonly called the American persimmon, common persimmon, Eastern persimmon, "'simmon" and "possumwood", is a persimmon species known by a variety of names including. It ranges from New England to Florida, and west to Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
), Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Chamaecyparis thyoides , is a species of Chamaecyparis, native to the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine south to Georgia, with a disjunct population on the Mexican Gulf coast from Florida to Mississippi...
) 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
Myrica pensylvanica
Myrica pensylvanica, the Northern Bayberry, is a species of Myrica native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Ontario and Ohio, and south to North Carolina.Myrica pensylvanica is a deciduous shrub growing to 4.5 m tall...
), Highbush blueberry (Vaccineum corymbosum), Beach plum (Prunus maritima), Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum
Rhododendron viscosum
Rhododendron viscosum, commonly known as swamp azalea or clammy azalea, is a deciduous shrub which is endemic to the United States.-References:**...
), Red and Black Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia and Aronia melanocarpa), Heather (Hudsonia ericoides) and Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia
Clethra alnifolia , is a flowering plant in the genus Clethra, native to eastern North America from southern Nova Scotia and Maine south to northern Florida, and west to eastern Texas....
). Every September the park hosts an exciting Beach Plum Festival, replete with tours, foods, music and a great atmosphere.
There are also many grasses, forb
Forb
A forb is a herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid . The term is used in biology and in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands and understory.-Etymology:...
s and herbaceous plants that delight the eye and olfactory senses.
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. One often thinks that the dunes are a barren environment, but there is natural diversity which is enjoyed by the native wildlife and the astute visitor.
Still, the majority of the public comes for the pristine white sand beach, the ocean waters, and a wholesome 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, with the northern most of these having 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 BayBarnegat Bay
Barnegat Bay is a small brackish arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles long, along the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. It is a long barrier peninsula, as well as by the north end of Long Beach Island...
to the main road allowing boaters access to the beach.
See also
- Barnegat PeninsulaBarnegat PeninsulaThe Barnegat Peninsula, also known as the Island Beach Peninsula and colloquially as "the barrier island", is a 20-mile long, narrow barrier peninsula located in Ocean County, New Jersey, that divides the Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a vacation destination and summer colony area and...
| To the North: Seaside Park, NJ |
To the South Barnegat Light, NJ |
External links
- Official Website from the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
- Island Beach State Park a locally maintained site about the park