Wildwood Outlines Strategy to Prevent Trouble on Memorial Day Weekend

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, a series of crime-fighting measures aimed at troublemaking teenagers are being implemented in Wildwood to prevent a repeat of the tumultuous holiday weekend last year.

A 10 p.m. curfew, a ban on backpacks and a heavier police presence on the Boardwalk will be in effect island-wide, according to a news release Tuesday.

“The Wildwoods have long been known as a safe, family-friendly vacation destination, and its zero tolerance policies have been a main contributing factor for that reputation. The additional safety measures will provide even greater protection for all visitors,” the release said.

The following measures will be taken in the resort throughout the holiday weekend and the entire summer tourism season to protect public safety:

• A 10 p.m. curfew for minors 18 years and younger will be enforced on the Boardwalk nightly.

• Backpacks are prohibited on the Boardwalk at all times to enhance safety and reduce potential risks.

• Increased law enforcement presence will be visible across the island and on the Boardwalk, including support from city, county, and state agencies.

• Protective bollards have been installed at all Boardwalk entrances to control vehicle access and ensure pedestrian safety.

• Advanced state-of-the-art surveillance cameras have been installed along the full length of the Boardwalk for real-time monitoring.

• Enhanced social media monitoring will be conducted to identify and prevent large gatherings of young people and unauthorized “pop-up” parties before they begin.

• Rental property regulations have been updated to limit occupancy and discourage large, unsanctioned parties.

“We want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy the Memorial Day festivities here in the Wildwoods. At the same time, we are taking a firm stance on public safety. These measures ensure a safe, family-friendly atmosphere for all,” Louis M. Belasco, executive director of Greater Wildwoods Tourism and Improvement Development Authority, said in the release.

“As always, we extend our sincere thanks to our public safety officials for their dedication and commitment to keeping our community safe,” Belasco added.

Heading into the pivotal summer tourism season, Wildwood wants to avoid a repeat of Memorial Day weekend in 2024, when swarms of unruly teenagers and young adults got into fights and caused other trouble on the Boardwalk.

At one point, Wildwood declared a “state of emergency” and temporarily closed the Boardwalk when police were inundated with calls complaining about the rowdy teens.

Earlier, Ocean City and Sea Isle City announced that they will be using a curfew, a backpack ban and heavy police presence to prevent teens from disrupting the Memorial Day weekend and entire summer season.