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


Friday, September 25, 2015

650 pounds of trash.

650 pounds of trash.

from
LIBAG, The Long Island Beach Access Group...

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP!

Families, Friends, Day Trippers, Soccer/Football/Baseball/Frisbee Mom’s, 
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Fishermen/Women, Surfers, Windsurfers, Kiters, 
Beach Lovers of all kinds…

It was great to see everyone working together. Whether you visit the beach by Boat, Truck, or Foot; you ALL pitched in and removed over 650 pounds of trash from Gilgo State Park and Gilgo Town Beach!

Congratulations to all of you for a job well done!






It's sad in a way that we find it necessary to spend our time to clean up after others but this is the world we live in. Thank you all once again for teaming up with LIBAG and the ALS for this important campaign.



We want to thank 

Florence Findley TOB Community Development Program. 
Gordon D. Canary, District Director, NYS Senator Phil Boyle.
Senator Phil Boyle, himself.
Tim Byrne, NYS Park Manager.
Thomas Donnelly, Town of Babylon Councilman

Jacqueline (Jackie) Brown, Town of Babylon Councilwoman  



One team of 2 ladies picked up 517 cigarette butts from the sand "ashtray" at the Gilgo Marina. That's pretty bad.
We don’t have the final tally from Senator Boyle’s clean up at RM 2.

But if the weight tally from just our small clean up is over Over 650 POUNDS. 
Wow. That's a scary number. 
Don’t you wish it was Zero?

We just cannot thank you enough.

LIBAG, The Long Island Beach Access Group



All photos were taken by Gordon Canary.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Gilgo Beach Clean Up!

Please Join the


LIBAG, (Long Island Beach Access Group) 


at the
Gilgo Beach

THIS

Saturday, September 19, 2015 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Rain Date: Sunday, September 20


Help Keep Town of Babylon Beaches
Clean and Beautiful

All Debris Will Be Weighed & Documented
All Clean-Up Materials & Documentation Forms Will Be Provided
All Youth Volunteers Will Receive a Certificate of Appreciation


For More Information & Registration Details
Please Contact Ray Eriksen
rayve_us@yahoo.com / (631) 885-4479


In addition: LIBAG, will also be sponsoring the beach clean up at  Gilgo State Park  
This is the area from Old Coast Guard through Hemlocks. 

Just as we do every year: 
since Gilgo State Park, 
is only accessible by 4x4 vehicles, or a short walk…

Do not drive on the beach
 unless you have the proper vehicle permits. 

Do NOT Park at off road entrance 
by the Old Coast Guard Station.


You can park at Gilgo Town Beach parking lot
Tell them at the gate, "you are there for the Beach Clean Up."
You can walk East from there. We will also be shuttling people from the lot, to and from the clean up area. 
[Please do not cross the highway]


In 2014, 6,891 volunteers, coordinated by the American Littoral Society, cleaned and documented 92,677 pounds of debris along 245.52 miles of New York State's shoreline.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Recently, LIBAG was privileged to meet Lisa Matassa.

Recently, LIBAG was privileged to meet  Lisa Matassa. 
Her “instagram” post says it all.




Thursday, July 30, 2015

Sorry we’ve been out of touch.

LIBAG apologizes for not posting as much as we probably should have. But hopefully, you have been as busy as we have.

LIBAG wants to thank everyone who attended the Gilgo Beach and Gilgo State Park Clean up on May 2nd. The weather and waves cooperated, and we had a decent turnout. If you were one of us, Thanks again! If you weren't, hopefully we catch up with you next time.


LIBAG successfully coordinated with The NYS Parks , and the Town of Babylon to open the fence on western side of Gilgo State Park. Remember, you need a town of Babylon Surfing pass to enter this area.





While we have had several small clean-ups this summer…The next big one is  NYS/ American Littoral Society event on September 19th at Gilgo Beach and Gilgo State Park 4x4. Put in on your calendar.

LIBAG is still working, and meeting regularly with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. 

The ESA was finally able to have a surf contest on State Park Beaches.

LIBAG also attended the “Protect Ocean Recreation Workshops” in Long Beach and Montauk. These meetings were to put all the data collected from the “Mid Atlantic Recreational Activities Survey” in context. We would like to thank Matt Gove for this initiative.

Both Demo, and the full length of Gilgo are back open. So lets be responsible beach users everyday. Do the things that make sense; like bringing a garbage bag and carrying out your litter and any litter you found in your area. Air down your vehicle if you're on the 4x4 beaches and bring along a good quality air inflator/compressor to air up before you hit the highway.
Do not bring your pets to the beach. Harassment of an endangered species [Piping Plover] is a Federal Law, not some Park rule. If you are caught, your permit will be pulled! 

And we were reminded that it is a surfing 4x4 permit, so each occupant of the vehicle should have a flotation device of sort, so bring along additional boards or boogie boards.... just in case. 

LIBAG believes we should always be good citizens, on our best behavior. A little bit goes a long way. And it sets a good example for others. 

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Thank you

Good Day,

We had a pretty good day out there last Saturday. The weather and waves cooperated and we had a decent turnout of @ 25 people. If you were one of us, Thanks again! If you weren't, hopefully we catch up with you next time. 

Your support is important because it shows us at LIBAG that you are behind us in our efforts to date and what we are striving to attain in additional beach access for surfers. We still have many goals ahead of us and we're getting closer to capturing more legal surfing locations, one day at a time. 

What we all can do on any day on the beach is be responsible. Do the things that make sense like bringing a garbage bag and carrying out your litter and any litter you found in your area. Air down your vehicle if you're on the 4x4 beaches and bring along a good quality air inflator/compressor to air up before you hit the highway. Airing up at Demo takes about 7 minutes with the compressor they provide, @12 minutes at Gilgo State Park with your own. 

Do not bring your pets to the beach. We were warned Saturday that if anyone does and is caught, your permit will be pulled! And we were reminded that it is a surfing 4x4 permit, so each occupant of the vehicle should have a flotation device of sort, so bring along additional boards or boogie boards.... just in case. 

Sorry for the rant, I'm not scolding, lol. Just saying that we're being watched with our new found freedom, so we should always be good citizens and on our best behavior. A little bit goes a long way. And it sets a good example for others. 

See ya' at the beach, 

LIBAG.

PS: Next locked in clean up is the big NYS/ American Littoral Society event on September 19th at Gilgo Beach and Gilgo State Park 4x4. Put in on your calendar.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Important dates coming up, or passing you by.

April 24th 

LIBAG, and The Long Island Windsurfing Group would like to thank you for your help at the Town of Babylon’s Gilgo Beach on Friday, April 24th, Arbor Day.
We want to thank Florence Findley from the Town of Babylon for the opportunity to help.
Note: LIBAG officially adopted Gilgo Beach. 

May 2nd 

We just want to thank everyone in advance for helping out this year.

Saturday, May 2nd: Beach Clean Up! from 9 - 11 AM at Gilgo State Park.

In just a few weeks, [Memorial Day], access to our favorite spots shut down.
So, “What can I do about that?” Well this is what you can do…Take a few hours next weekend, and help  yourselves out.

Please help out at the May 2nd Beach Clean Up: 
9 - 11 AM at Gilgo State Park.

LIBAG, LI Windsurfers, & NYS Parks in just the last 5 years… Have opened up Ocean and Sound side access at RM, JB, & Joe’s Beach. They opened Heckscher months, after Sandy, when we were told by ‘authorities’ it would take at least a year to let us back in. They’ve added more months to the season on the North and South Shore so you can SUP, Surf, & Windsurf.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

Saturday, May 2nd from 9 to 11AM.

LIBAG, The Long Island Windsurfing Group, & NYSOPRHP, will be sponsoring the beach clean up at NYS Park’s Gilgo  Beach. 
This is the area that encompasses Old Coast Guard through Hemlocks beach.
This clean up is part of NYS Love My Parks Day May 2nd, 2015.
There will be hundreds of clean ups all through the NYS Parks system that day.

But this is the one where we need to be visible. 
The State needs to understand there are thousands of Surfers, Windsurfers and Waterpeople of all types, willing to help out. 

So grab your LI Windsurfing Group shirt, or LIBAG shirt; bring your family and friends.

Just as we did last year, since Gilgo State Park, is only accessible by 4x4 vehicles, or a short walk…if you don’t have the proper vehicle and permits, you can park at Gilgo Town Beach parking lot. Tell them at the gate that you are there for the Beach Clean Up. You can walk East from there; or we will be shuttling people to and from the clean up area. [Please don’t cross the highway].

Come on down, bring family and friends and a smile. 


Who's coming?

We want to thank Timothy Byrne from NYSOPRHP for allowing us the opportunity to help.



June 6th and 7th

Heckscher State Park will again be host to the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, ECWF L.I.  June 6th and 7th 2015.
Follow the peconicpuffin.com for updates.
We want to thank David Auguste from NYSOPRHP for hosting us again.

This is a great event , with something for everyone.
We have had pro’s travel from Bonaire, Cabo Verde, Canada, as well as our own Mike Burns, and Jon Sasson.


You don’t even need to compete to have fun. Just show up.


Sometime this summer, 

There will still be opportunities to pitch in with Habitat for Humanity, who believe it or not…are still working on rebuilding homes damaged during Hurricane Sandy.
We will keep you posted on dates as they come available.

There will of course, be even more beach clean ups and events this summer.
Stay tuned to LIBAG.ORG for details as they become available.

September 2015

LIBAG will again Captain for the annual NY State Beach Cleanup, through the American Littoral Society.  littoralsociety.org
We expect this will be on 9/19. 

LIBAG, The Long Island Beach Access Group, LIBAG.ORG wants to remind you to get your Empire Passports, and off road permits. Democrat Pt, and Gilgo off road surfing permits are still for sale till April 30th. Access starts April 1st.

There are still Town of Babylon 2015 Surfing Vehicle Passes for sale. Get yours before they run out.