The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a Methodist group in New Jersey that has been closing its beaches on Sunday mornings for religious services for over 150 years, is now facing opposition from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The department has threatened fines of $25,000 per day for violating state beach access laws. In response, the association decided to temporarily allow beachgoers access on Sunday mornings during the Memorial Day weekend while they continue to fight the court case.
The association argues that their closure of the beach on Sunday mornings is a long-standing tradition that honors God and is a core pillar of the community. They claim that the state’s attempt to interfere with their religious practices violates U.S. constitutional amendments concerning freedom of religion, private property rights, and due process and equal protection. The association also asserts that their policy of restricting public access for 45 hours between Memorial Day and Labor Day is reasonable.
Despite the association’s efforts to maintain their religious tradition, some residents and beachgoers are supportive of the temporary opening of the beaches on Sunday mornings. One resident, E. VanderBerg, expressed happiness at seeing families out on the sand and having the freedom to choose how to spend their Sunday mornings. The decision to allow beach access during the holiday weekend provides people with the opportunity to worship, be with their families, and enjoy the natural beauty of the beach in their own way.
Ocean Grove, located in Neptune Township just north of Asbury Park, is known as “God’s Square Mile at the Jersey Shore.” The association, as a nonprofit Christian entity, owns all the land in the community including the beaches. They have traditionally kept the beaches closed until noon on Sundays to hold worship services. The ongoing legal battle between the association and the state highlights the complexities of balancing religious freedom, property rights, and public access to natural resources.
As the dispute between the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and the state Department of Environmental Protection continues, the outcome will have implications for the future of beach access and religious freedom in New Jersey. While the association seeks to preserve its long-standing religious tradition, the state is pushing for greater public access to the beaches. Ultimately, the court’s ruling will determine whether the association can continue its practice of closing the beaches on Sunday mornings or if they will be required to allow unrestricted access for all beachgoers. Until then, the community remains divided on the issue, with some supporting the association’s rights to religious freedom and others advocating for equal access to the beaches for all.
