Jessica Norton For many local families at the Jersey Shore, beach access comes with a financial barrier. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 1 in 4 year-round residents in Asbury Park, New Jersey live below the poverty line, and the cost of beach badges places entry out of reach for many households. This can lead to situations where individuals risk going to the beach after hours, when lifeguards are no longer on duty, in order to avoid the fee. Since 2018, the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund has worked to provide beach badges to community members who otherwise could not afford them, helping to reduce unsafe, unguarded swimming. Read on to learn more about the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund organization and how to get involved.
What is the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund?
The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund is a community-based initiative that helps ensure local residents who may not be able to afford beach badges can still access the beach during the summer season. In Asbury Park, beach badges are typically required for entry during lifeguard hours during the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but the cost can be a barrier for some families. The fund collects donations and support from the community and uses those resources to provide beach badges to individuals and families in need. Its goal is to make the beach more accessible and inclusive while also encouraging safe use of the shoreline during supervised hours.
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The Asbury Park Community Beach Badge Fundraiser was started in 2018 by Lisa Cramp after she observed something while working at a beach and boardwalk bar. She noticed that some families would intentionally arrive at the beach later in the day, once the badge checkers and lifeguards had finished their shifts, in order to avoid paying the badge fee for entry. While this allowed them free access to the beach, it also meant swimming without the safety presence of trained lifeguards, creating a serious risk for those in the water. The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund believes that everyone should be able to enjoy our beautiful beaches during lifeguard-supervised hours, regardless of financial limitations.
Leann Bey took over organization of the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund when Lisa moved away, and under her leadership, the fund has continued to grow its impact raising money to provide beach badges to locals, hosting local fundraisers, and even partnering with the Asbury Park Library on a program where residents can check out a beach badge just like a book.
The APBBF works with local partners such as the Boys and Girls Club of Asbury Park, Trinity Church, Second Life Bikes, KYDS Program, and the Asbury Park Surf Club to help distribute free badges to the Asbury Park community.
Who is allowed to receive a beach badge?
There are no strict qualifications required to receive a beach badge through the fund. Rather than setting strict income requirements, the goal is to keep access as inclusive as possible, recognizing that need isn’t always easy to define.
“I don’t want to say you need to make a certain amount of money,” Leann explained. “Sometimes you’re living in Asbury Park, and whether or not you’re technically below the poverty line, $70 is still a lot.” She also noted that the town isn’t legally able to offer discounted badge prices, which makes community support even more important. “We just hope that anyone who needs it is able to get it,” she added.
How to Get Involved With the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund
Involvement in the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund can take shape simply through donations, volunteering, or participation in fundraising events. Donations serve as the primary support for the program, with funds going directly toward purchasing beach badges for local families who might not otherwise be able to afford access.
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Donations are collected through GoFundMe, and the APBBF uses the funds to purchase seasonal beach badges, which are then distributed through a network of participating local nonprofits and community organizations.
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Fundraisers also play an important role, as these events are specifically organized to generate support for the badge initiative and help expand its reach within the community. On Saturday, May 9th, 2026 the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund will host the 6th Annual Asbury Park Beach Badge Fundraiser at Asbury Lanes featuring performances from local acts such as Modern Chemistry, Heather Hills, Blush, and The Gulf Of Mexico. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance and $15 at the door on the day of the show. $20 VIP tickets are available, which include a free tote bag. The $20 ticket covers the cost of one child’s beach badge, meaning each VIP purchase directly provides safe beach access for at least one local child. All proceeds from the show will be donated to the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund.
Why Do You Need Beach Badges in Asbury Park?
Beach badges in Asbury Park exist as a seasonal access system that helps the city fund the cost of maintaining its public beach. During the summer months, the fees collected from badge sales go toward paying lifeguards, cleaning the shoreline, maintaining boardwalk facilities, and managing the large influx of visitors that comes with peak season. On the surface, it functions as a practical way for a small coastal city to support the infrastructure needed to keep the beach safe and operational without relying entirely on general taxes.
At the same time, access to the Jersey Shore, and Asbury Park in particular, has a complicated history shaped by inequality and segregation. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Asbury Park was developed as a resort town during a period when many American seaside destinations were not equally accessible to everyone. Over time, patterns of racial segregation in housing, employment, and public life influenced who was able to live near or easily reach the shoreline. Even when beaches were technically public, barriers such as discriminatory treatment, limited access to nearby housing, and economic costs like fees and transportation made coastal recreation far less accessible for Black residents and other marginalized communities. These structural inequalities contributed to long-standing divides in who could comfortably use and enjoy the waterfront, the effects of which are still part of the broader conversation around affordability and access today.
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To learn more about the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund and the upcoming fundraising event at Asbury Lanes, check out their website. Those in need of badges, or who would like to distribute badges to those in need via an organization or registered non-profit, can fill out the form on the Asbury Park Beach Fund’s website or reach out via email at [email protected].
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