Community Corner

Feds Strip Nude Bathing From Fire Island; Are You Bummed?

Officials point to reports of public lewdness and diminished dunes, ending Suffolk's only nude beach.

Federal park officials sent a message to nude sunbathers: Put your clothes back on.

That is, in Suffolk at least.

Fire Island National Seashore officials said they will begin enforcing laws that prohibit nude bathing on Fire Island, after many reports of sex and other incidents of public lewdness on the beaches, according to Newsday.

Find out what's happening in Kings Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Officials also said Hurricane Sandy had damaged many sand dunes that had provided a buffer so onlookers couldn't peep on bathers from afar.

"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," Fire Island chief ranger Lena Koschmann told Newsday. "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."

Find out what's happening in Kings Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fire Island had been the only beach in Suffolk to allow nude bathing.

Read the story here (subscription required).

Are you upset or pleased about the decision? Let us know in the comments.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here