An administrative court judge sided with a group fighting to keep a more-than-a-century-old tradition alive in one Jersey Shore town.

"They think they need to close the beach to have service? 'Cause they can worship here with an open beach,” said one beachgoer who only wanted to be identified as “Donna.”

Sunday morning beach closures could make a comeback in Ocean Grove, following the judge’s ruling.

Beth Ann Clark, another beachgoer visiting from Pennsylvania, also disagrees with the judge's ruling.

"I think the beach is a wonderful example of God’s creation, God’s gift to us. That’s how I feel when I look at the ocean and the sand and so I agree that worship can go on and people can be on the beach," Clark said.

RELATED: Christian group's rule keeping Ocean Grove beaches closed on Sunday mornings may end

It’s been more than two years since the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered Ocean Grove to stop blocking beach access on Sunday mornings. And now it looks like that could be reversed pending a review from DEP.

An administrative court judge sided with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, ruling that the group’s 150-year-old policy to close boardwalk access to the beach every Sunday in the summer between 9 a.m. and noon doesn't violate the state’s public access law.

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General filed a response to the judge’s ruling earlier this month, urging the DEP to stick with its original order.

The office wrote in part, “...stripping the public of significant access rights during the time of the greatest demand—is unreasonable as far as the public is concerned."

Ocean Grove summer resident Beth Carroll said this is nothing new for residents.

"We’re used to it being closed until noon. So, for me, I feel like it’s just the norm," Carroll said.

Jennifer McDunnough, who was visiting from Indiana, said she'd never heard anything like it.

"That doesn’t make sense, my form of worship might be sitting on the beach," McDunnough said.

News 12 reached out to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which owns the land and is waiting for a response.

The ruling by the judge is not the final word. It still faces review by the DEP, which could change or reject the ruling. The DEP has 45 days from the June 26 ruling to take action. The ruling becomes final if no action is taken.