Summer offerings at Island Park's Masone Beach

Posted

It may be small, but Island Park’s Masone Beach is big where it counts: community.

For the past month, the Herald has featured the beach’s weekly movie and concert nights in its Week Ahead section, but those are only a fraction of what is on offer this summer.

The small stretch of sand is replete with a spray park, gazebo, barbeque pit, playground, memorial benches, mini library, a concession and merchandise stand, rentable beach chairs and soon, rentable umbrellas and more, enough for a family to spend an entire summer Saturday or Sunday there.

All of it is part of an effort, according to beach commissioner and village Trustee Barbara Volpe-Ried, to return the beach to greatness. “I just want the families and kids here to come and enjoy the beach,” she said. “I just want to make it like it was years ago, the way I remember.” This summer, it seems to be paying off.

According to her, parking and beach pass registration has jumped to nearly 1,500, compared to a slump at around 300 in previous years. Turnout has been high for the weekends, she said, and village beach workers have been busy serving residents who come out to enjoy the water, sand and services.

For residents who wish to make a permanent mark at Masone in memory of a loved one, they can purchase a memorial bench for $1,500, and according to Ried there are about 5 remaining. Additionally, the beach’s snack shack is filled with chips, cookies, ice cream, drinks, and an array of Masone Beach-themed merchandise.

So whether you live in Island Park, Oceanside or elsewhere, sign up and come relax at Masone for the summer.