Which Atlantic County beach is your favorite? Residents and visitors are encouraged to answer that question by participating in the 2012 New Jersey's Top Ten Beaches contest.

     Voting begins at noon on Tuesday, February 21 and runs through April 30. Cast your vote by logging onto www.njtoptenbeaches.org or through the link on the county web site at http://aclink.org.  Participants will also have an opportunity to identify which issue they feel will have the biggest impact on the future of coastal New Jersey and may also enter a special drawing for one of four Jersey Coast Prize Packages that will not only celebrate New Jersey beaches but also other attractions and activities.

     The Top Ten Beaches contest and survey was launched five years ago by the NJ Sea Grant Consortium in cooperation with Dr. Stewart Farrell, marine science professor and director of the Coastal Research Center at the Richard Stockton College of NJ, to promote stewardship and pride in New Jersey's beaches.

     The Top Ten Beaches project puts a pre-seasonal spotlight on the benefits of visiting and vacationing at New Jersey beach communities and helps boost local shore economies, according to Kim Kosko, Director of Communications for the NJ Sea Grant Consortium.

     Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson sees this as an exceptional opportunity to promote New Jersey's natural resources and specifically Atlantic County’s 14 miles of sandy white beaches, one of the country's premier boardwalks and all the other amenities and recreational activities that make Atlantic County such an inviting area.

     "In addition to beautiful beaches, Atlantic County is fortunate to have what no other New Jersey area has - 11 casinos with world class dining, shopping and entertainment. And with the addition of Revel and the creation of our Tourism District, we are taking it to yet another level."

     Survey results and contest winners will be announced on May 24 to help kickoff the Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer tourism season.

     "This is the year Atlantic County steps into the spotlight and with the help of this contest the added acclaim of having some of the best beaches in New Jersey,” concluded Levinson.