Community Corner

Belmar On Track for May 22 Grand Re-Opening of Beach, Boardwalk

Celebration to be held at former Taylor Pavilion

Belmar continues to plan for a grand re-opening of its beach and boardwalk, May 22.

The final boards are lain and railings are now going up. Concession trailers and bathrooms will be installed for the season until permanent facilities go up in 2014, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said.

The permanent lighting may not be installed in time, leaving the borough to go with temporary spotlights or another fix, said the mayor, but otherwise the boardwalk and beach will function in time for the grand re-opening.

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The re-opening is being planned with much fanfare, said the mayor. 

The elementary students of Belmar and Saint Rose schools will be invited, and the Belmar Strong volunteers will be honored. There are plans for special presentations, t-shirts and other honors.

Find out what's happening in Manasquan-Belmarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It will be an official opening of the beach, and a ribbon cutting on the boardwalk," Councilwoman Jennifer Nicolay told Patch.

Nicolay said May 22 was picked as a day to cut the ribbon due to its proximity to Memorial Day, when the borough hopes Gov. Chris Christie will stop by to further celebrate the tourist season, and because the beach and boardwalk reconstruction projects are forecast to be complete then.

The beach may not be patrolled by lifeguards on May 22, Nicolay said, which usually begins Memorial Day weekend, but the event should mark the official reopening of the beach.

The beach has been off-limits since Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed the boardwalk and flattened the beach. 


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