For years, my family and I have cherished the beach access at Village Road in the Villas. It was one of the primary reasons we chose to settle in this area. The convenience of having a safe and easily accessible path for our children to use was invaluable. Our street, with its convenient crosswalk, allowed them to come and go freely, ensuring they were always under our watchful eye. When the beach access was open, it was filled with families, children, and the elderly, all enjoying the sun and surf. The sense of community fostered by this shared space created bonds and memories that are now being jeopardized by its closure.

The closure of this beach access is inexplicable. The access appears to be shut to accommodate the preferences of the homeowner at the end of the road, rather than serving the needs of the wider community who have relied on it for generations. Village Road is a main thoroughfare where many from neighboring blocks come to drop off kayaks, children, and other beach gear. This closure forces families to walk a longer distance, posing not only inconvenience but also safety concerns for children and the elderly.

The significance of this access point cannot be overstated. It has historically been a public path, legally permitting residents and visitors alike to enjoy the beachfront. Shutting it without just cause undermines the values of community, accessibility, and shared public spaces.

This petition is a call to action to our township leaders: reopen the public beach access at Village Road. By restoring access, you reaffirm the commitment to public spaces which accommodate everyone, regardless of where they live. In reinstating this beach access, you are not just opening up a path to the beach but are reopening the hearts and minds of a community.

Please stand with us in urging the township to make this right and sign this petition to ensure our beach at Village Road remains accessible to all.

Edit: to be clear, the township closed this entrance without notifying the community. It's been  off and on with closures for months. They could have fixed the safety concerns over the winter but did nothing. Other years they've added sand and should have a better solution by now. 
Side note: Today, my 12 year old son is walking along Bay Dr to get to the beach. I can't let him do that alone. It's more dangerous on Bay than braving the cliff on Village!