A long-running dispute over Sunday beach access in Ocean Grove ends with a final order from the stateDEP on December 26, directing the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to open its beaches to the public starting at 9 a.m. on summer Sundays, overruling a prior July ruling that allowed private closures.

The DEP Commissioner stressed that public access is mandated by law and state-funded beach nourishment and maintenance are conditioned on providing access, placing Sunday closures in violation of the public trust.

The core tension centers on balancing a religious mission of the Camp Meeting Association with public access rights, framed by the state's obligation to ensure access in exchange for funding support.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association owns land, leases facilities, controls the boardwalk, and has historically cited religious origins for Sunday restrictions, including a cross-shaped pier that has faced closure issues since late 2023.

Commissioner LaTourette ruled that the association’s closure practices and a sworn statement claiming limited access violated the public’s right of access, clarifying that the enforcement focuses on public access rather than unlimited access.

The dispute centers on public beach access funded by federal dollars and ongoing Sunday access battles in Ocean Grove.

The Camp Meeting Association has not issued a public comment in response to the DEP's final order.

Historically, Ocean Grove has restricted Sunday access from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day for religious reasons, despite prior orders and extended legal proceedings dating back to 2023.

State law and public funding for beach nourishment and the boardwalk underpin access rights, and the decision emphasizes the public trust doctrine against Sunday closures.

Former OGCMA president quotes frame the issue as perceived religious persecution and a preference for quieter Sundays, contrasting with other Jersey Shore towns that impose beach restrictions for safety or crowd management.

The association, a Methodist nonprofit, has long held that Sunday morning access should be restricted to protect church services, noting the town is largely owned by the association under a charter dating to 1870.

Public access is technically provided 365 days a year 99.5% of the time, but Sundays in the summer have been traditionally blocked from 9 a.m. to noon.