Beaches, Boardwalk, Bay

Ocean City is taking an eco-friendly approach for the landscaping of parks, recreation sites, gardens and other plots of public land scattered across town. Under a new $192,480 landscaping contract awarded by City Council on Thursday night to A. Guzzo Landscaping LLC of Turnersville, N.J., the city is switching to organic landscaping methods in place of chemical pesticides. In all, the pesticide-free landscaping program will cover 61 public sites, including popular areas such as the grounds at City Hall, the dog park on 45th Street, the wildlife sanctuary on 25th Street and the Bayside Center on Fifth Street.