{"id":235722,"date":"2026-05-05T21:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T01:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/?p=235722"},"modified":"2026-05-06T17:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T21:29:10","slug":"asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\/","title":{"rendered":"The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund: A Local Initiative for Safe Beach Access"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"custom_featured_image\" style=\"display:none;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--800x533.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--263x175.png 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park-.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"custom_category\" style=\"display:none;\">Community<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apbeachbadgefund.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has worked to provide beach badges to community members who otherwise could not afford them, helping to reduce unsafe, unguarded swimming. <\/span><b>Read on to learn more about the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund organization and how to get involved.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-235732\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park--263x175.png 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park-.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b>What is the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apbeachbadgefund.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKSS5Jutkby\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKSS5Jutkby\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund (@apbeachbadgefund)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/swimming-advisories-bacteria-jersey-shore-beaches-july-2025\/\">beaches<\/a> during lifeguard-supervised hours, regardless of financial limitations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-235729\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1-800x800.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1-585x585.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/duogirls-1.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DNTquA-PyIw\/\">Asbury Park Library<\/a> on a program where residents can check out a beach badge just like a book.<\/p>\n<p>The APBBF works with local partners such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/bgcmonmouth.org\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boys and Girls Club of Asbury Park<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trinitynj.com\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trinity Church<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.secondlifebikes.org\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second Life Bikes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.konscious.org\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KYDS Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asburyparksurfclub.org\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asbury Park Surf Club<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help distribute free badges to the Asbury Park community.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Who is allowed to receive a beach badge?<\/h3>\n<p>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\u2019t always easy to define.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to say you need to make a certain amount of money,\u201d Leann explained. \u201cSometimes you\u2019re living in Asbury Park, and whether or not you\u2019re technically below the poverty line, $70 is still a lot.\u201d She also noted that the town isn\u2019t legally able to offer discounted badge prices, which makes community support even more important. \u201cWe just hope that anyone who needs it is able to get it,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Get Involved With the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund<\/h3>\n<p>Involvement in the Asbury Park Beach <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/bradley-beach-nj-beach-badges-history\/\">Badge<\/a> 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read More:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/gourmand-restaurant-point-pleasant-beach-nj\/\">New Restaurant, Gourmand, Coming to Point Pleasant Beach, NJ<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Donations are collected through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-2026?attribution_id=sl:1d9d4ffa-c435-4733-8df0-ddf5f203cd1b&amp;lang=en_US&amp;ts=1774307436&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp17_ta-amp20_t2&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GoFundMe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DWowidyEamP\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DWowidyEamP\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund (@apbeachbadgefund)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asburylanes.com\/event\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-05092026-1\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6th Annual Asbury Park Beach Badge Fundraiser<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Asbury Lanes featuring performances from local acts such as Modern Chemistry, Heather Hills, Blush, and The Gulf Of Mexico. Tickets are $10 if <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.axs.com\/events\/1392259\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-tickets?skin=asburylanes&amp;_gl=1*izfid4*_ga*MTkzOTM4NTEzOS4xNzc1ODU0Nzkx*_ga_N5KESX13LF*czE3Nzc5Mzg0NTUkbzYkZzEkdDE3Nzc5Mzg0OTUkajIwJGwwJGgw\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">purchased in advance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Why Do You Need Beach Badges in Asbury Park?<\/h3>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/asbury-park-nj-best-small-beach-town\/\">beach<\/a> safe and operational without relying entirely on general taxes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-235730\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1-800x800.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1-585x585.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/oddfellows-1.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/sharing-shed-bradley-beach-nj\/\">communities<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>See More:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/dog-friendly-beaches-new-jersey-hikes\/\">Dog-Friendly Beaches + Hiking Spots to Visit in New Jersey<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apbeachbadgefund.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the upcoming fundraising event at Asbury Lanes, check out their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apbeachbadgefund.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Those in need of badges, or who would like to distribute badges to those in need via an organization or registered non-profit, can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apbeachbadgefund.org\/get-badges\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fill out the form on the Asbury Park Beach Fund\u2019s website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or reach out via email at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:apbeachbadgefund@gmail.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">apbeachbadgefund@gmail.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow @thejerseyshoregirl_ on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thejerseyshoregirl_\/?hl=en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Instagram<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the latest Jersey Shore updates, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twilight-lion-90332.myflodesk.com\/jrf4qhj7qk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sign up for our weekly newsletter here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/events\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">events calendar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which has over 40+ events weekly to peruse.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"categories\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/thejerseyshoregirl.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stories<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CommunityFor many local families at the Jersey Shore, beach access comes with a financial barrier. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":386,"featured_media":235732,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9644,7997,9771,9640,9593],"tags":[9677,9680,9694,9702,9755],"class_list":["post-235722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asbury-park","category-lifestyle","category-non-profit","category-jersey-shore-towns","category-local-girl-rss-feed","tag-asbury-park","tag-beach-life","tag-coastal-living","tag-lifestyle","tag-tlg"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund: A Local Initiative for Safe Beach Access - The Jersey Shore Girl<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A look at how the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund is making beach access safer and more accessible for local residents.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund: A Local Initiative for Safe Beach Access\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A look at how the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund is making beach access safer and more accessible for local residents.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Jersey Shore Girl\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-06T01:00:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-06T21:29:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/asbury-park-.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"666\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jessica Norton\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jessica Norton\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jessica Norton\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/397ab05fdcbcb7632c92c19bfaa4e0b3\"},\"headline\":\"The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund: A Local Initiative for Safe Beach Access\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-06T01:00:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-06T21:29:10+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1256,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/asbury-park-.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Asbury Park\",\"Beach Life\",\"Coastal Living\",\"Lifestyle\",\"The Local Girl\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Asbury Park\",\"Lifestyle\",\"Non-profit\",\"Shore Towns\",\"The Local Girl\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thelocalgirl.com\\\/jerseyshore\\\/asbury-park-beach-badge-fund-local-initiative-safe-beach-access\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund: A Local Initiative for Safe Beach Access - 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