Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, is facing a shortage of beach boxes due to a tight budget and a growing waitlist for summer rental requests. The wooden structures have been a popular attraction for beachgoers, generating about $200,000 in rental income for the borough in recent years. The shortage has prevented the borough from accommodating rental requests from out-of-towners. This year, Wildwood Crest will redirect money typically used to buy beach boxes towards covering rising costs. The mayor has proposed a multi-year plan to acquire about 50 boxes over the next two years, with the first 25 being acquired in summer 2027, followed by a second round in 2028. The boxes are built in several New Jersey state prisons through a manufacturing program run by the state Department of Corrections.