Mayor Jay Gillian: Skate Park Open, Beach Projects North and South

Crowds of skaters fill the new skateboard park in Ocean City on Friday afternoon. Dear Friends: I am pleased to announce that the new skate park in Ocean City opened yesterday afternoon. and I would like to thank everyone who helped plan and build the park. I believe it will be a great resource for our City. We remind all skaters to follow the rules and wear the appropriate safety equipment. The park will be open daily from 9 a.m. until dusk, weather permitting. We are planning an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Saturday of Columbus Day Weekend during the block party. The beach replenishment project in the south end is on hold through the weekend for rough seas and high winds. Weather permitting, we are hopeful the dredge will be back to work on Monday with only a small bit of material left to pump onshore. Crossovers and fence installations will be completed following pumping, and the contractor has been asked to make access to the state park a priority. The beach replenishment project for the north end of town has been given a notice to proceed. A preconstruction meeting will be held in early October, with pipe and other equipment mobilized soon after. Pumping onto the beach could begin as early as mid-October. Dredging of Snug Harbor also began earlier this week. Although a smaller project than what we had hoped for, material is being moved out of Snug Harbor to the disposal site under Route 52, with eventual transport to Wildwood for disposal. Additionally, ACT Engineers continue to have surveyors in the back bays measuring the material that has accumulated in the dredge areas since Hurricane Sandy. This updated survey will allow ACT Engineers and the city to demonstrate to the state and federal governments the need for timely permit approvals and common sense regulations. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Warm regards, Jay A. Gillian Mayor