Trouble in paradise at Masone Beach

Masone Beach, a summer destination for many Island Park residents, has become a focus for residents this season due to reduced summer programs, increased fees, and maintenance issues that have left many residents frustrated and seeking answers from village officials.

“In terms of being a visitor to the beach, things have seemingly changed in the last two years,” shared Harbor Isle resident Maureen Fitzgerald, a local mother of two young kids, who expressed her concerns about the state of Masone Beach. “The prices have gone up quite substantially, especially for Harbor Isle residents,” she continued. “The staffing has been impacted by lifeguard shortages and a reduction in recreation staff. The kids who are there are really trying to keep the standards up, but the resources have just been diminished over the last two years.”

In response to the outcry, Island Park Mayor Michael McGinty acknowledged the challenges but assured residents that efforts are being made to address them.

“We are working on the lifeguard situation, but there’s a shortage of qualified lifeguards across the county,” Mayor McGinty explained. The countywide shortage of qualified lifeguards, impacting other beaches as well. Harbor Isle Beach closed it’s waters to swimmers due to this shortage.

Fitzgerald also highlighted issues with maintenance, especially during the offseason.

“There were Christmas ornaments on the beach until April,” she added. “It’s become an eyesore in the offseason, which wasn’t the case in previous years.”

McGinty touched on the maintenance issues, specifically the problem with geese, which have been the main culprit when it comes to issues of beach cleanliness. Environmental regulations limit the actions the village can take to manage the geese population, a significant contributor to beach cleanliness problems. However, he assured residents that steps would be taken to improve maintenance and keep the beach clean.

“We will ensure better maintenance to avoid fecal matter on the beach,” McGinty promised.

The mayor emphasized the importance of community feedback and encouraged residents to contact him directly with their concerns, making his cell phone number publicly available.

“My cell phone number is on the village’s LED sign, and I want residents to know they can always reach out to me,” he stated.

As the summer progresses, residents hope for swift action to restore Masone Beach to what residents have come to enjoy.

“I paid $50 per person now to go to the beach, whereas it was less four years ago,” Fitzgerald said. “I like going to Masone because it’s the bay, it’s smaller and I have small children so Long Beach is a bit overwhelming. It’s a huge ocean but the price of (Masone) shouldn’t be competitive with Long Beach.”