Update: Plans Scrapped for Jones Beach to Provide Surfing Competition Parking

Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh was to serve as the main parking area for the Quiksilver Pro New York surfing competition in Long Beach from Sept. 4 to 15, but these plans were scrapped late this week.

New York State Parks spokesman George Gorman said the City of Long Beach withdrew its request to utilize Jones Beach for parking after the festival portion of the surfing event was cancelled due to the cleanup from Hurricane-turned Tropical Storm Irene. The festival, which was expected to bring in large crowds to complement the surfing, was going to feature skateboard, motocross and music events.

The City of Long Beach on Friday posted information on its website about parking and transportation for the Quicksilver event, saying the ideal place to park for shuttle service is at Barnum Island in Island Park on Beach Avenue at Austin Boulevard, immediately north of Michael Valenti Memorial Long Beach Bridge.

Quicksilver had planned to utilize Jones Beach West End Parking Field No. 2, where a direct shuttle bus would transport fans to and from the competition. Jones Beach is about 10 miles from the surfing event, which will take place during the best four days or eight half-days of wave conditions from Sept. 5 to 15.

Jones Beach also served as a parking area for the U.S Open golf tournament when it made stops at the famed Bethpage Black in Farmingdale in 2002 and 2009.

The Quicksilver event will feature the world’s best surfers competing for a $1 million prize starting with trials on Sunday. Long Beach is the first East Coast community to hold the event, and the sixth stop on the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour.