NJ mayor suspends beach fees for Harvey relief

BELMAR, New Jersey -- A New Jersey mayor is suspending beach access and parking fees in the borough of Belmar on Labor Day - asking residents and visitors to instead donate to a municipal relief effort for Rockport, Texas.

The coastal town of Rockport is similar in size to Belmar and received catastrophic damage during Hurricane Harvey.

Mayor Matt Doherty has suspended the $8 fee for a day badge and receptacles will be set up along beach entrances so people can leave donations.

Doherty is planning to deliver collected donations late next week to Rockport, traveling on his own expense.

The mayor says there are parallels to the damage sustained by Belmar during Superstorm Sandy and what Rockport has experienced this week.

"In lieu of payment for the beach and parking, we're asking people to make these donations so if we can do our part and pay it forward and help them the way so may Americans helped our town after Sandy, why not do it," Doherty said.

Belmar also plans to adopt Rockport as a sister city.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)