Dear Friends,
I’d like to provide updates on three important projects and remind everyone about the upcoming dredging town hall meeting.
Earlier this week, an Army Corps of Engineers contractor completed sand-pumping operations on the beaches at the southern end of the island. That marks the end of a project that rebuilt dunes and brought almost 2 million cubic yards of new sand to the south end. The federal government paid for the full cost of the work. Property owners and guests in that part of town had long advocated for the city to do whatever it took to restore eroded beaches and flattened dunes. My administration has always believed that working in partnership with the federal Army Corps and state Department of Environmental Protection provides the most effective long-term solution for our beaches. Now the south end is part of a cycle for regular renourishment projects. With summer and another storm season fast approaching, it’s a relief to know that the south end beaches and dunes are healthy. We’ll now turn our full attention to bringing more sand to the north end of Ocean City. I will update you all as soon as we hear any news.
Also this week, work crews started building a temporary road to a site in the marshes near Roosevelt Boulevard (34th Street). The site is approved as a place to store material dredged from Ocean City’s shallow lagoons and bayside channels. The new road will allow trucks access to help empty the site to make room for new dredging projects. As many of you experience every day, much of the bayside is too shallow to boat, paddle or swim any time near low tide. The road is one key to providing relief for all those who enjoy Ocean City’s back bays. There will be traffic delays associated with this project, so please be patient and allow extra time for your commute.
Lastly, the city remains on schedule to install artificial turf at Carey Stadium starting sometime shortly after Ocean City High School’s graduation in mid-June. Carey Stadium is home to many planned events prior to the artificial turf project, including a showdown between the local Nor’easters amateur soccer club and the D.C. United professional club, the American Heart Association HeartWalk and high school graduation. In order to maintain acceptable field conditions for these events, partial resodding of the field occurred earlier this week. We will attempt to reuse the sod when the turf is installed, a common practice when the grass has little time to take root. The field projects are part of the city’s commitment and investment in youth and recreation.
I want to remind you all about our dredging town hall meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Senior Center at the Ocean City Community Center. Representatives of ACT Engineering will go over the 2016 dredge program, plans to remove material to make room for new projects, and other long-term plans.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit nj.seagrant.org to cast your ballot for Ocean City in the “Top Beach in New Jersey” contest. Voting is open through June 10.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Warm regards,
Jay A. Gillian
Mayor
