Large American nude beach no longer clothing optional.

Americans just lost one of their largest nude beaches.
February 5, 2013
To Whom it May Concern:
United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Fire Island National Seashore 120 Laurel Street Patchogue, NY 11772
Effective
immediately, state nudity laws will be enforced at Fire Island National
Seashore. While state laws apply throughout the Seashore, the park will
focus its public education and enforcement efforts of the existing New
York State law at the following federally-owned areas:
o Lighthouse beach, from the western boundary of the park to the western boundary of Kismet.
o
The Sailors Haven tract, from Point O' Woods to Cherry Grove. o One
half mile on either side of the Barrett Beach lifeguard stand. o One
mile on either side of the Watch Hill lifeguard stand.
o From the Wilderness Visitor Center to the breach at Old Inlet
Public
nudity has been prohibited in the State of New York since 1984 under
New York State Penal Code 245.01. Fire Island National Seashore shares
concurrent jurisdiction with the State of New York, which means that
state laws can be enforced on federal lands by federal, state, and local
law enforcement officers. Although the National Park Service (NPS) is
focusing its enforcement on the identified areas, the law still applies
park-wide, and may be enforced throughout the park. NPS policies favor
consistent enforcement of state laws on federal lands, and disfavor the
designation of clothing optional areas. Public nudity on Fire Island has
resulted in conflicts of use, despite past park management efforts to
accommodate clothing optional recreation. On Lighthouse beach in
particular, the dense visitation invited by the previously-designated
"clothing optional beach" presented not only a visitor use conflict, but
created a public safety hazard due to the lack of adequate facilities
for trash and human waste, in addition to the heavy recreation on a
non-lifeguarded beach. Additionally, Hurricane Sandy leveled the dunes
in this area, which increases the visibility of the beach from other
public use areas. The sandy overwash areas left by the storm created
added habitat for sensitive species in the area. Finally, park employees
have observed an increase in criminal activity in the designated
clothing-optional areas, but have been unable to appropriately manage
this activity despite significant attempts at education and enforcement.
Violation
of this law is a class B federal misdemeanor, and can result in fines
of up to $5,000 and up to six months imprisonment.
Fire Island
National Seashore management recognizes that visitors have come to Fire
Island to sunbathe in the nude for many years, and that many responsible
and respectful users of this
beach have provided support to the
park through volunteer efforts over the years. Fire Island National
Seashore management is focusing its enforcement only on those areas in
which visitor use conflicts are likelyspecifically, those areas that
are heavily visited by members of the public who are generally not
attuned to nude recreation. On all Seashore lands, however, other
regulations such as disorderly conduct, creating an offensive condition,
public intoxication, and drug and alcohol laws will be strictly
enforced. Use and compliance on all park beaches will be monitored
throughout the summer, with additional measures being taken as
necessary. Should concentrations of nudity and/or lewd and lascivious
behaviors increase in other areas of the park and cause similar
conflicts with other visitors and/or protected natural resources, then
the park may expand its enforcement efforts to other areas.
Questions about these changes should be directed to Chief Ranger Lena Koschmann at 631- 687-4757 or lena_koschmann@nps.gov.
Sincerely,
/s/ Lena Koschmann
Chief Ranger, Fire Island National Seashore O: (631) 687-4757 Lena_koschmann@nps.gov

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