Fire Island: Officials Ban Nude Sunbathing

Fire Island officials have banned nude sunbathing.

Nude sunbathing on the New York beach has been a tradition for decades, but officials are putting a stop to it this summer. Fire Island National Seashore authorities are banning the practice.

Increased complaints of debauchery and literal sex on the beach have led to more serious legal action concerning the area around the famous Fire Island lighthouse. This is the narrow strip of land east of Robert Moses State Park Field 5.

According to Newsday, Fire Island chief ranger Lena Koschmann said:

“We’ve been struggling to make it work because Fire Island has a history of that type of use and people have been coming there for years. The more we talked about it and researched it, the more we realized that that use wasn’t compatible with an area like Lighthouse Beach.”

The beach’s proximity to said lighthouse has garnered tourist complaints about nude sunbathing. The practice has now become a real problem now that superstorm Sandy has eliminated the dunes which used to obscure the view.

Lena Koschmann has also remarked on the activity over the years:

“There has been a huge change in the demographic and the types of activities happening there in the last 10 or 15 years. Now when you go out there it’s a party atmosphere. There’s DJs and music, and people partying and drinking.”

Felicity Jones, co-founder of New York-based Young Naturists and Nudists America said:

“I’m pretty disappointed. It was the best beach we had for New Yorkers, and it’s not easy to be a nudist in New York.”

How do you feel about Fire Island officials putting a ban on nude sunbathing?

Now you’re going to have to put something between you and the sun on Fire Island as officials ban nude sunbathing ow.ly/i6ca8

— Fagabond (@fagabond) February 27, 2013