Barnegat Lighthouse State Park Could be Privatized

Though the Barnegat Lighthouse has stood as a beacon to sailors and beachgoers along the Jersey Shore for almost 150 years, the state's fiscal constraints might force a local agency to take control of the park.

During the last two weeks, a variety of groups, including the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and the Borough of Barnegat Light, have expressed an interest in operating the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. The state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Parks and Forestry runs the park now.

During a recent Borough Council meeting, the council adopted a resolution asking the department, the agency that now runs the park, to consider turning over its management to a local group. Officials said the group would include municipalities on Long Beach Island and a variety of different civic groups that include the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, a volunteer group that helps raise funds for the continued operation of the park.

State officials are willing to listen to any idea of outsourcing the operation of the park, but they are not just going to off-load the park, said Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the department.

Barnegat Light's interest in operating the park comes on the heels of representatives for the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce talking to state officials about the idea of running the park.

According to the chambers' plan, a fee would be charged for parking and entrance into the lighthouse. Reynolds said the fee would only be "a couple of dollars." Currently, there is a $1 fee to enter the lighthouse during the summer.

Officials said it would cost approximately $250,000 a year to run the park.

The idea of privatization of state parks is nothing new. In July 2010, a report issued by the New Jersey Privatization Task Force stated state officials should look into "long-term concession agreements for the operations and management of all state parks" as a way to save money.

Jeff Tittle, the executive director of the Sierra Club's New Jersey chapter, said the talk of privatizations shows state officials are interested in getting out of the parks business. The club is a non-profit group that seeks to protect public access.

Fifteen years ago, staffing was approximately 850 at state parks; now we are down 407 staff members. We are seeing a dismantling of the state park system.

Joseph Mancini, mayor of Long Beach Township, said the park should stay under the control of the either the borough or the Friends group. Information from: Asbury Park Press,http://www.app.com