By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Mark Cosma and his family were prepared for a full day at the beach Wednesday in Sea Isle City.
The adults relaxed in comfy lounge chairs close to the water, while the kids used plastic shovels and buckets to build sandcastles.
“We’ve got everything,” Cosma said, while pausing to add, “except for beach tags.”
But Cosma didn’t have to worry about the normally ubiquitous beach tag checkers descending on his family to tell them they had to buy $10 daily beach tags on Wednesday.
For more than 25 years, Sea Isle has offered a perk to beachgoers by not charging them for beach tags on Wednesdays. Throughout the summer, Wednesdays are the one day of the week when Sea Isle’s beaches are free.
“Free beach Wednesdays are very popular, and they allow many day trippers to enjoy our shoreline without needing a beach tag,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said. “It is not uncommon to see busloads of visitors come to town on Wednesdays from schools, church groups and other organizations, so they can have fun on the beach, walk the Promenade, patronize our local business community and then head home after a fun-filled day in Sea Isle City.”
Beachgoers gather around the lifeguard stand at 42nd Street.
There is one exception to Wednesdays for free beach days. If the Fourth of July falls on a Wednesday, beachgoers still have to pay for a tag.
Cosma, who lives in Warminster, Pa., said he is aware that Wednesdays are free beach days and is one of the reasons he visits Sea Isle with his family.
“I think it’s a great option for us to come here for a day,” he said.
Cosma had plans for the money he saved from not having to buy beach tags.
“I’ll probably buy a sandwich when I get hungry,” he said, laughing.
With Cosma were his wife, Patti, his 7-year-old daughter, Joclyn, his sister-in-law, Amie Cosma, her 8-year-old son, Nicholas, and a family friend, Suzanne Newland.
Newland, who lives in Cape May Court House, was surprised to learn that Sea Isle has free beach days on Wednesday.
“I was kind of surprised when I didn’t see her,” Newland said of the beach tag checker normally stationed on the pathway to the beach at John F. Kennedy Boulevard. “I thought she might be down her on the beach doing her rounds.”
From left, Carrie Fritz, her 7-year-old daughter, McKinley, Susan Burkhard, Anna Conover and Marge Badiali wade in the water.
Marge Badiali, who lives in State College, Pa., was another Sea Isle beachgoer who wasn’t aware that Wednesdays were free beach days. She thought it was a good idea to help save families money.
“I see a lot of families on the beaches, and with their kids, it would cost a fortune,” Badiali said of the cost of beach tags.
Badiali was lounging on the beach with her friends and family, including Carrie Fritz and her 7-year-old daughter, McKinley, Susan Burkhard and Anna Conover.
Conover had a beach tag, but the idea of one day a week when the beaches are free sounded inviting to her. She thought of other more appealing ways to spend her money, if she didn’t have to buy a beach tag.
“I would buy some ice cream or pizza,” she said.
Beachgoers lounge under cabanas.
This summer Sea Isle raised the price of beach tags for the first time since 2011 to help pay for the growing expense of maintaining its 4½ miles of shoreline.
The increase included a $5 across-the board price hike for seasonal, weekly and daily beach tags. Seasonal tags now cost $30, weekly tags $15 and daily tags $10.
Traditionally, beach tag sales generate about $1.4 million in annual revenue for the city, although more money is expected this summer because of the price increase. The revenue helps cover the cost of keeping the beaches clean, collecting the trash, employing lifeguards and hiring summer police officers.
Sea Isle officials estimate the city loses out on a couple thousand dollars of beach tag revenue during the free beach days over the entire summer. But for the amount of goodwill it does, it is certainly worth it, they say.
A sign says that beach tags are required from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but doesn't mention that Wednesdays are free.
