Protecting Asbury Park's Lakes

Asbury Park is geographically defined by its lakes: Deal Lake bordering the City in the North, Sunset Lake connecting Main Street to the beach, and Wesley Lake bordering the City in the South.

We invite all citizens and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and recreational activities surrounding our lakes, and to keep in mind that improving and preserving the health of the lakes and their aesthetic appeal will take every one of us!

Please take pride in these valuable assets to our community, and keep in mind these tips:

Clean Up After Your Pet

Pick up after your pet. Animal waste adds nitrogen to the water, which depletes the oxygen necessary for beneficial underwater grasses, wildlife and fish. Animal waste may also contain harmful organisms such as giardia, salmonella and e. coli which can be transmitted to humans and other animals by ingesting contaminated water.

Roundworms and hookworms deposited by infected animals can live in the soil for long periods of time and be transmitted to other animals and humans. Picking up after your pet isn’t just considerate, it’s also the law: Neptune and Asbury Park require you to pick up after your pet.

Dispose of Yard Waste Properly to Keep Leaves and Grass out of Storm Drains

Leave grass clippings on your lawn, compost away from the lake and/or dispose as instructed by DPW. Don’t place yard waste in the street where it can clog storm drains and potentially cause flooding. Improperly disposed of yard waste can flow into the lake, reducing water flow and adding to algae growth.

Don’t Litter and Remember to Recycle

Dispose of all garbage in the receptacle. Everything on the ground is swept into the lakes and then the ocean when it rains. Trash cans are easily available around all of Asbury Park’s lakes, please use them instead of dropping garbage on the ground. Pick up visible trash left by others. Especially cigarette butts! Small acts to help clean up the lake areas make a big difference.

Don’t Feed Wildlife in Public Areas

It might seem like the kind thing to do, but feeding the birds and wildlife risks the spread of disease, threatens the health of the birds, jeopardizes the safety of the birds, and endangers drinking water supplies. And please report goose nests in the March-May time frame.

Limit Your Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides

Use less fertilizer or low phosphorous type. Spread fertilizer a few days or more prior to heavy storms. Know the weather!

Properly Use and Dispose of Hazardous Products

Call DPW for questions on how to dispose of hazardous products and don’t let them end up in your lakes!

Report Issues

To report environmental incidents, abuses and complaints in New Jersey, call the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Hot Line at 1-877-WARNDEP. For more information, visit the Department of Environmental Protection.