The Town of Babylon packed up its barbecue grills and picnic benches from Gilgo Beach, sparking a smoldering backlash from beachgoers.

Free community picnic benches and barbecues used to be available at the beach. However, they are now gone. Their removal caught many residents off-guard, especially Steve Weinkselbaum, who said the items were there during Memorial Day.

"I've been coming here over 40 years," Weinkselbaum said. "Every year we've had barbecues and picnic tables, this is the first year they took them away."

Town officials told News 12 Long Island that beach erosion and vandalism forced the removal of the tables and barbecues. They said if residents walk through a tunnel and across the parking lot, they can still find those same resources.

Some residents maintain that the alternate location is too far and inconvenient. Others, though, said they believe it's not a big deal.