The Beach belongs to everyone

We want Long Island to be a place where this, and the next generation can surf, windsurf, sail, swim, sunbathe, fish, kayak or just soak in Long Island's Natural Beauty.

Long Island is losing its waterfront and wet lands to private homes at an alarming pace. Beach Access is disappearing right along with it. In addition, many NYS laws concerning Beach Access are archaic at best.

It is not LIBAG's intent to take away any existing rights of NYS Beach users. Only to add to them.

We are fortunate, to be working with the Long Island Regional State Parks Commission towards solutions that would allow all beach user groups equal access to all NYS Parks Beaches, with out excluding or taking away any access rights from any user groups.

The Long Island Beach Access Group is most commonly known for its four core programs;

1- The Beach Access program whose research and advocacy programs support the maintenance and expansion of access to those remote beach locations on Long Island for all users.

2- Also, our Beach Preservation program works to sponsor, participate and encourage those activities that ensure the healthy maintenance of our beaches and barrier islands, such as beach grass plantings.

3- Our Beach Clean-up program works to sponsor, participate and encourage continual beach clean-ups in conjunction with the America Littoral Society. This includes the adoption of Gilgo Beach.

4- But also, Long Island Beach Access Group is known for our Beach Actions program which seeks to encourage and reward proper behavior when enjoying the beaches. This includes following the official rules and regulations of each of the beaches and areas that provide access to those beaches, promoting the “Carry in, Carry out more” philosophy, and in a more informal fashion, instructing people on safe enjoyment of our natural resources.


Remember: it is not LIBAG's intent to take away any existing rights of NYS Beach users. Only to add to them.

LIBAG is honored to work with New York State Park officials, as we continue to connect the Parks to the People.


We look forward to our continued work with New York State officials in order to implement solutions that encourage more diverse use of NYS’s Beaches.


CONTACT US email me libaginfo@gmail.com


Sunday, February 20, 2011

State aims to temper dispute over access to LI beaches

State aims to temper dispute over access to LI beaches


http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/state-aims-to-temper-dispute-over-access-to-li-beaches-1.2463845



State aims to temper dispute over access to LI beaches

Monday November 15, 2010 4:47 PM By Erin Geismar, Newsday


The New York State Department of Parks, with a new chairman at the helm, is taking on a long-running dispute over Long Island beach access.


Members of the Long Island Beach Access Group and the New York State Parks - Fishing Advisory Board filled the seats at the parks department commissioner’s meeting at Belmont Lake State Park on Monday and gave opposing views of the trouble between surfers and anglers at beaches across the Island.

Bill Muller, an advisory board member, complained that surfing and fishing were not compatible activities and that fishermen felt they were being pushed off the beach.


Jack Riordan, of Long Island Beach Access Group, said surfers have been made to feel like “second-class citizens,” and that they deserve equal access to the beach.


It was not the first time the groups have approached the parks department for a solution, but Chairman Bryan Erwin said during his first meeting in the position that it would be his “winter project” to fix the problem.


Erwin asked both groups for a concise list of grievances, and the commissioners voted to form a sub-committee to review the issues and how they might be able to address them.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

The beach belongs to everyone







LIBAG is fortunate to work with New York State Park officials, as we continue to connect the Parks to the People.

We wondered why Fishermen and only Fishermen have the exclusive right to many of New York State’s most beautiful beaches. We are taxpayers; and these are public beaches belong to everyone. Don’t they?

Each year thousands of people purchase permits to enjoy NYS’s finest beaches. However at some of these beaches it is prohibited to prohibited to engage in any low-impact, surf-related water sports. 

So the members of LIBAG are honored to work with New York State officials as we continue to implement solutions that encourage more diverse use of this resource.


Some people may argue that 4x4 access could be bad for the the beach, but 4X4 drive-in access to the remote beaches is actually environmentally responsible. Long Island’s Outer Beaches are essentially sand bars. And sand bars are constantly in motion. When you afford access to these beaches via 4X4 you don’t have to build “Hard Structures” like roads, buildings, and sewer systems. Responsible Off Road drivers pack it in, and pack it out [that includes our own waste]. In fact we usually end up removing more from the beach than we came with.

Next let’s talk erosion. Erosion is caused, and exacerbated by hard structures built on the sand. Roads and buildings actually make things worse. Where you can simply close a moving beach due to natural erosion; you must instead engage in a costly losing battle of dredge and fill if you build on a beach.

Plus you can simply close for a limited time, any beach during the times of year that certain birds, turtles, and other wildlife are nesting. When the nesting period is over, you can simply reopen the beach. If you have an investment in Pavilions, Concession Stands, and boardwalks, you are less likely to go the environmental route.

Like many other Long Islanders, we rely on the ocean for our food, fun, and well being.

The members of LIBAG, Surf, Swim, Windsurf, Kayak, Stand Up Paddle-board, Fish, Boogie Board, and just plain old enjoy the magnificent ocean. And we do so 12 months a year; not just in the summer. in many cases we hike, sail or paddle miles in order to access some of these outer beaches.

We initiate, and take part in countless beach cleanups, and Dune Grass Plantings. 


We look forward to our continued work with New York State officials in order to implement solutions that encourage more diverse use of NYS’s Beaches.

 For more information of Long Islands Shore, please see http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/cprocesses/pdfs/LIDynamicSouthShore.pdf