In a move to modernize beach access, Sea Isle City is launching digital beach tags for the upcoming summer, allowing beachgoers to purchase and display tags directly from their smartphones. The initiative, announced by city officials, aims to provide a more convenient option for visitors, eliminating the need to carry traditional plastic tags that have been in place since the ’70s.
The new digital tags can be bought and stored using a mobile app developed by My Beach Mobile. While physical tags will still be available, the digital option caters to the growing trend of using smartphones for various transactions.
The Sea Isle City Council is set to authorize the contract for the mobile app, which will also enable the purchase of physical tags, though they must be collected in person. The app, available on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store, is expected to go live around April 1, with detailed information to be released by the city.
Chief Financial Officer Jennifer McIver highlighted the ease of purchasing daily, weekly, or seasonal tags via the app, albeit with nominal fees attached. For example, a daily tag priced at $10 will include a $1 fee. McIver believes the convenience offered by the app justifies these additional costs.
This digital transition comes as Sea Isle City also announced an increase in beach tag prices for the summer of 2024, with seasonal tags now at $30 and daily tags at $10. The revenue from beach tag sales, crucial for maintaining clean beaches, lifeguard employment, and beach replenishment projects, reached $1.3 million in the summer of 2023.
