Polar Bear Plunge, Other Private Events Affected by New Policy in Sea Isle

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI In a major change in policy, Sea Isle City will no longer allow businesses or organizations to use public streets, parking lots and other municipal facilities for their private events. The full impact on large, privately run events that draw thousands of visitors to town, such as the Polar Bear Plunge celebration held each winter, is not yet clear. In a letter dated Sept. 8, the city explained to the local business community that the change in policy was made because private events were causing a strain on municipal services. “City sanctioned programming which has traditionally occurred inside and/or outside City facilities will continue as in the past,” the letter says of Sea Isle’s public events and entertainment. “However, privately sponsored events requiring or seeking to utilize City streets, parking lots, or inside and/or outside facilities are no longer permitted.” The letter goes on to say that private events that are sponsored by nonprofit organizations for charity and do not involve alcohol will be reviewed “on a case by case basis” to see if they would have only a small impact on city streets, parking lots and municipal facilities. City Solicitor Paul Baldini said large private events have simply put too much of a strain on city services, including the police department and the Public Works Deparment. “It taxes our resources to stage these events,” Baldini said in an interview. Small private events on the beaches, such as weddings, would not be affected by the policy change. “If they want to get married up on the beach, we don’t have any opposition to it,” Baldini said. A Pennsylvania woman died after falling into the water at the city's public marina during the Polar Bear Plunge weekend celebration in 2009. Baldini explained that the city is also looking to limit its potential liability to lawsuits stemming from private events held on public property. The death of a Pennsylvania woman who fell in the frigid water at the city’s marina during Polar Bear Plunge weekend in 2009 was a factor in the new policy, he said. “I think that tragic event overshadows this change,” he said. “I don’t say that in a mean way.” Tracy Hottenstein, 35, of Conshohocken, Pa., died of hypothermia complicated by acute alcohol intoxication after she fell in the cold water at the marina, authorities concluded. Hottenstein’s family filed a federal lawsuit in 2011 accusing Sea Isle City, its police department, local medical personnel and others with either contributing to her death or doing nothing to prevent it. A judge later dismissed claims against Sea Isle, its ambulance squad, several police officers, the bars that served her drinks and a couple who gave her alcohol in their home during Polar Bear Plunge weekend. The Polar Bear Plunge, Sea Isle’s signature winter event, traditionally attracts thousands of visitors to town for a weekend of partying, shopping and dining over the Presidents Day holiday in February. The celebration is highlighted by a frosty, madcap dip in the ocean. It was not held this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the city now barring private events from being held on public property, the question remains whether the Polar Bear Plunge weekend celebration can continue. Baldini said he believes that the plunge “was done” even before the new policy came about, simply because there won’t be enough private space to hold the event. “I don’t see any way a massive event can be held except on a property like LaCosta,” Baldini said. The Polar Bear Plunge costume party was one of the featured events held under the tents at the former LaCosta Lounge. LaCosta Lounge had served as the epicenter for the Polar Bear weekend’s traditional costume party and other privately run entertainment in the 25-year history of the plunge. However, the LaCosta Lounge was sold in 2018 to new owners and went through a rebranding this summer into the new tropical-themed Beach Bar at the Ludlam Hotel. Local businessman James Bennett, who formerly owned the LaCosta Lounge, organized the Polar Bear Plunge each year. Bennett transformed the LaCosta property and parking lot with large tents for the plunge’s lineup of private entertainment. For the plunge itself, thousands of revelers would march across the street to head to the beaches and ocean from the LaCosta site at the corner of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Landis Avenue, in the heart of downtown Sea Isle. Bennett also owns the Oar House Pub on 42nd Place, a few blocks from the ocean. The Oar House Pub does not have the same amount of property as the former LaCosta Lounge for private entertainment events associated with the Polar Bear Plunge. “I don’t know if the location makes a difference,” Bennett said of the possibility of using the Oar House for plunge events. Citing the city’s new policy change for private events, Bennett said it is still up in the air whether he will be able to hold the plunge in 2022. “I still have to get my ducks in line before I can comment,” he said in an interview Tuesday. Bennett added that he wants to research the policy in more depth and also speak with city officials about it before he makes a decision about the plunge. “As of now, I can’t definitely say,” he said. In the meantime, the last private event that was allowed to use city property was the Irish Festival last weekend at the Oar House Pub. The policy change is now in effect. “The business community is being provided notice of this policy change for planning purposes,” the city says in the Sept. 8 letter. “The City will continue to look for ways to work with all businesses and event planners for the betterment of the City, our residents, visitors, and business community.” The Irish Festival last weekend was the last private event allowed to use public property in Sea Isle.