Sandy Hook & Lighthouse Beaches (originals)

[VXCguy]

Newsday 2/27/2013

A decades-long tradition of nude sunbathing on Fire Island beaches is coming to an end this summer: Fire Island National Seashore authorities have announced plans to enforce long-standing laws banning the practice.

The surging popularity of Lighthouse Beach in particular has led to increased complaints and observations of assault, sex, masturbation and prostitution, said Fire Island chief ranger Lena Koschmann. On some summer days, as many as 4,000 people descend on the narrow strip of land east of Robert Moses State Park Field 5, in the shadow of famed Fire Island Lighthouse.

"We've been struggling to make it work because Fire Island has a history of that type of use and people have been coming there for years," Koschmann said. "The more we talked about it and researched it, the more we realized that that use wasn't compatible with an area like Lighthouse Beach."

The beach's proximity to the lighthouse generated complaints from tourists about public nudity, which now would be seen more frequently because the beach's dunes, decimated by superstorm Sandy, no longer obscure sightlines, she said.

Since the beach has no lifeguards, bathrooms or trash cans, Koschmann said thousands of nude sunbathers pose a public health risk in an area that wasn't meant to be heavily used.

"There has been a huge change in the demographic and the types of activities happening there in the last 10 or 15 years," she said. "Now when you go out there it's a party atmosphere. There's DJs and music, and people partying and drinking."

Koschmann also said some social media sites carry invitations to meet for public sex on the beach.

The fact that public nudity is illegal in New York was another compelling reason to change the policy, since FINS maintains joint jurisdiction with the state, she said. The ban also will be enforced at four other Fire Island beaches where nude sunbathing is known to take place -- including the tract of land in front of Sailors Haven, from Point O' Woods to Cherry Grove.

Koschmann recommended the change in policy to National Seashore Superintendent Christopher Soller, who approved and announced it in an annual release outlining use restrictions at the national park. Rangers will begin by "educating" nude bathers, Koschmann said, and progress to giving tickets. But that is difficult, she said, since many nude sunbathers do not carry identification.

Toplessness, she said, "is tricky. The law that's on the books still says a woman has to have her breasts covered. That being said, there is some case law that has led to a different type of enforcement in that area. . . . We're not going to be hammering on toplessness."

Local and national nudist recreation groups decried the change in policy, which they say eliminates their only option for public nude bathing on Long Island.

"I'm pretty disappointed," said Felicity Jones, co-founder of Young Naturists and Nudists America, a New York City-based group. "It was the best beach we had for New Yorkers, and it's not easy to be a nudist in New York."

Jones, who asked to be identified only by her pen name, said her group now would probably spend most of the summer at New Jersey's Gunnison Beach.

Long Island Travasuns, a nudist-naturist group started in 1978, is hoping it can meet FINS halfway.

The group's president, who asked to be identified only as Dan, said he is "deeply saddened and extremely disappointed" by the change, but his members "hope to reach an understanding that is acceptable to everyone involved."

Koschmann said the decision is final and will be enforced. Violators could face 6 months in jail and up to $5,000 in fines.

"One of the key decision-makers for us is we've really tried. A lot of people say you should do a better job of enforcing laws down there," she said. "We only have six field rangers on staff, and they're responsible for 32 miles of beach. And they're spending between 75 and 100 percent of a summer day on that one stretch of beach."

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/t...land-1.4717776

[VXCguy]

SO SAD!!!! DAM It was the highlight of my summers!! Well looks like I wont be heading there as regularly as I was.

[vinbiker]

Originally Posted by bigappleboy

Hope it isn't a total wash this summer.

Nice pic so sad we cant go nude i just got into it last year

[pjbeachfun]

Gunnison Beach at Sandy Hook should be open around Memorial Day. So have faith!

[VXCguy]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed

[user33139]

Lighthouse Beach August 8, 2009

[user33139]

The following are some pics in response to a thread under "Voyeur - Nude Beach Reports". Sorry for the poor quality, only can do so much with old iPhone. Copy below is the report in the thread.

QUOTE=brunettesrule;1263375]Okay, the wife and I were at Gunnnison Beach (Sandy Hook) NJ this weekend. We've been going there since about 1999, so we've been there MANY times. We came up on Friday and were on the beach by about 6 pm. We stayed until dark. The beach actually closes at 10 pm.

When we were there we took a ton of pictures of ourselves using a tripod and flash. We stayed to the extreme south end of the beach to not bother anybody, but I'm sure people were watching. Eventually, we were approached by a fit gay guy who said, "You guys look so cute that if I weren't such a fag, I'd jump right in." We started talking to him and even had him in a few of our pictures. He seemed pretty high but a lot of fun.

Saturday, we got to the beach by about 8:30 am. You really need to do that here so that you get there before the best lot closes. When that happens, you end up having to park at a lot that is much farther away, and it is a major trek to get from the lots to the beach, which is huge.

When we got there and set up, I notice that we were about 20 feet from a girl we have seen before. She is gorgeous. I think she looks Italian or Jewish and is in her late 20's. Perfect face. I wish I could think of someone famous she resembles. Maybe the closest would be Amanda Peet, but better. She has an allover tan, and is shaved down below to just a pencil thin, very light brown landing strip. She is very slender, with A cup breasts, and her body flares outward to a very round butt. VERY nice.

Anyway, she is SUPER social. She had three friends who showed up late to meet up with her. A guy in a fedora, and two women. Both in their late 20's. Both had short, fashionable haircuts. Cute faces. Similar bodies to the Amanda Peet girl. That male friend must have been in heaven.

The Amanda Peet girl is a major flirt and drinks a lot of alcohol on the beach. She is also good friends with an African American guy who has a tent with a NY Giants flag waving over it. He is in his late 40's, but in very good shape and very relaxed and friendly. I'm going to skip to the chase. At some point, the Peet girl left her friends, went into this guy's tent with him, and was indisposed for about 5 minutes. Another, fitter and younger, African American guy stood watch outside the tent (for rangers, most likely). Then went inside, too, for about 5 minutes. I was dying to know what was going on.

Then, a fourth friend of the Peet girl, showed up to peep inside the tent. This friend (nice body) was wearing a cowboy hat and bikini. She was looking in and talking with the other girl off and on. Then, I was distracted for a while because we were getting ready to leave the beach for a few hours. When I looked back, though, the cowboy hat girl had stripped naked and was handing her hat to some guy. I can't remember if she went in the tent or not, but why else would she be stripping down? My mind is killing me thinking of the fun that Giants guy was having. Damn him, LOL!

I'll talk more about what I saw later if anyone is interested.[/QUOTE]

[VXCguy]

I remember when lighthouse was like this,

[bob_tina]

Anyone been to lighthouise beach yet this year? I know it is not nude but action groups are saying to go topless with minimum though which is legal. Was wondering if anyone has been there for a report...

My Wife from last year before ban

[VXCguy]

Hi Bob,

I've tried to get there 3 times so far and got either rained out or something came up. I'll be trying again next week during the week though.