Flood Damage Forces Restrictive Use at Jones Beach Saturday

The heavy surf at Jones Beach from Hurricane Earl caused extensive flood damage along the Wantagh beachfront Friday and as a result much of the state park has restrictive use on Saturday.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has closed parking field 2 at Jones Beach as a result of flood damage that occurred in this area. The only sections of Jones Beach open to swimming Saturday are Field 6, Field 5, Zach's Bay and the West Bathhouse Swimming Pool, according to New York State Parks spokesman George Gorman. As a result of the restrictive use of Jones Beach's facilities there is no fee for parking on Saturday, said Gorman.

The Jones Beach State Park boardwalk and Central Mall evening activities will close at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Gorman. This means that a free performance that was scheduled by the band "Real Diamond" at the Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell is cancelled since area still needs to drain from Friday's flood damage.  The Jones Beach Miniature Golf and Pitch and Putt Course were also affected by the water surge and forced to close, said Gorman. 

Saturday night's Stone Temple Pilots concert at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater will not be affected by the flooding and will take place as scheduled.