Eleanor Thomas, 10, was recognized Nov. 16 for designing Margate’s 2024 beach tag.

MARGATE – Eleanor Thomas, 10, of Longport, who is a student in the Margate schools, was recognized by the Board of Commissioners Thursday, Nov. 16 for creating the 2024 beach tag design.

Eleanor’s design is a giant wave with a surfer on top and a very bright sun above.

Margate, which shares the beach tag design with neighboring Ventnor, conducts the design contest every other year when it’s Margate’s turn to purchase the badges.

From left, Commissioner Cathy Horn, Eleanor Thomas, Mayor Michael Collins and Commissioner Maury Blumberg.

Margate will start selling pre-season beach tags on Monday, Nov. 20 at the Bloom Pavilion located at Granville Avenue and the beach.

Badges can be purchase 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Pre-season badges are $10; $3.50 for senior citizens 65 and older. Starting June 1, 2024, the price of seasonal badges increases to $20. Military tags are free for veterans and active duty military with proper identification.

Badges are required for everyone age 12 and older.

Gift boxed holiday beach tags are also available at a cost of $12 while supplies last.

Also on Thursday, the board approved a contract for a new vendor to provide online beach tag sales. The city previously used the Viply app, but the company went out of business.

The board awarded a contract for My Beach Tags, LLC of Haddonfield to implement a digital beach badge sales system. The company will add a 2.9% service charge for each purchase. The city will not incur any costs for the system.


Nanette LoBiondo Galloway

Award winning journalist covering news, events and people of Atlantic County for more than 20 years.