Dear Friends,
City contractors are working to complete road projects before the summer season, and I want to provide a few updates.
Final paving of 31st Street from West Avenue to Wesley Avenue was completed today. That was the last phase of a larger project that included paving and drainage work on Asbury Avenue from 36th Street to 40th Street that also was final-paved today.
Repairs to the driveway apron at the firehouse at 46th Street were made to eliminate reoccurring puddling, and signage and lighting were added to mark the Fire Department and Beach Patrol facilities. Emergency repairs to a broken storm drainage pipe near 7th Street and West Avenue are underway. Paving that adds 17 additional spots to the municipal parking lot at Ninth Street and Boardwalk is now complete.
We are restriping parking lines on Asbury Avenue and the travel lanes on the Boardwalk this week. New permanent restrooms on the Boardwalk at 10st Street and 11th Street remain on schedule to open by the summer.
Beach crews have installed mats at all crossovers, and construction of an ADA accessible ramp from the Boardwalk to the beach at 21st. Street is complete. The beaches are in good shape for what looks like a nice weekend coming up.
New fencing and new sod are among the improvements at the renovated 35th Street Little League fields, which are now open for play. Repairs to screening at the Municipal Golf Course have been made.
The city is working with Eagle Scout candidates on new amenities in town, including mini libraries on the Boardwalk and at the 34th Street Beach, a welcome sign for Merion Park near 36th Street and Bay Avenue, and a flag retirement plaza at the American Legion at 46th Street.
Today is Arbor Day, and this morning the city had a successful tree giveaway to property owners in town.
We distributed 500 seedlings of species that can thrive in our coastal environment.
Registration for our summer recreation programs opens at 9 a.m. on Sunday (May 1).
Our Recreation Department offers a wide variety of activities catering to all ages – from Junior Firefighter Camp to adult Pickleball clinics. Many of the programs are popular, so I encourage you to check out the list of offerings and sign up before the programs fill up. More information is available here.
At midnight on Saturday, the traffic signals that have been in seasonal flash mode will switch over to normal mode.
This includes intersections on West Avenue at 40th Street, 46th Street and 52nd Street, in addition to intersections at 34th Street and Central Avenue, 18th Street and Wesley Avenue, and 24th Street and Bay Avenue.
Former Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel and former Eagles Pro-Bowler Seth Joyner will be at the Ocean City Sports Memorabilia Show on Saturday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Music Pier, and I hear that the Eagles mascot Swoop may stop by at noon.
I encourage everybody to come check out the show.
I hope you all have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
