Town of Bethany Requires Masks in Downtown Business Area
The Town of Bethany town council voted today to require everyone to wear a mask in all areas of the C-1 business area. The requirement includes the boardwalk, boardwalk plaza and along the streets. The requirement does not include the beach. Violators of the ordinance are subject to a fine of $50.00-$100.00. The ordinance goes into effect Friday morning July 3rd.
The council took the action after it became too difficult to enforce a more lax rule that only required a mask when social distancing was difficult. But as more people began to come to Bethany, and as the heavy tourist season begins the council voted to change the rule to require full time mask use. The ordinance also includes joggers and bikers passing through the C-1 business area.
Below is a map of the enforcement area. You can also download the ordinance and a map of the covered area by clicking on the PDF icon below.
The council also voted to cancel the bandstand events for the rest of the summer. They also voted to continue to hold off running the town trolley.
Beach Crowds
In an effort to limit the crowds on the town beaches, the council voted to reduce the number of public parking spaces available from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily. 250 parking spaces in public lots along Atlantic Ave which parallels the ocean, will be designated resident permit parking only. The council noted that this was their only tool to try to limit number of people using the beach.
