News Release

Temporary Construction Closure of Bayside Parking Area, Bayside Beach and Picnic Area-effective Tuesday 03 September 2024.

Erosion of the Bayside parking and picnic area.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: August 29, 2024

Contact: Hugh Hawthorne, 410-629-6080

The Bayside Parking Area, Bayside Beach and Bayside Picnic Area will be closed for construction beginning 0700 Tuesday 03 September 2024. The area will reopen Friday/Saturday/Sunday Sept 6/7/8. Closures will continue every M/T/W/Th until work is completed. Assateague Island National Seashore staff will be finishing emergency shore stabilization work which was started in the spring. After Labor Day, Assateague Island Outfitters will be going to shoulder season hours and will remain open F/Sa/Sun through the month of September.

Heavy construction machinery will be operating in the area and as a safety measure it will be Closed to All Visitors. This includes all vehicular, bicycle, watercraft and foot traffic.

This area is very vulnerable to storm, tide and wind events and has been badly eroded over the past few winters. Erosion this winter did major damage to the shoreline which necessitated moving the Concession building and reconfiguring the parking lot. This work is necessary to allow the continued public use of the area and is part of a larger, long-term plan to improve the visitor experience.

All other areas of Assateague Island National Seashore (including the Oceanside Beach, all Trails, Campgrounds and Boardwalks) will be open as normal. It is expected that the work will take approximately two to three weeks, but this is work and weather dependent.