Long Branch Citizen's Group Hopes City Will Make Safety, Comfort Improvements on Ocean Avenue

"The southern Green Acres traffic free linear park is now finally connected to the northern Green Acres traffic free linear park," the group states. "People can now walk safely along the entire beachfront."

While the city is still coming up with a final design for its boardwalk after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, the Save Ocean Avenue Committee has come up with the following safety and comfort issues along Ocean Avenue:

• Create shade areas for people looking to seek refuge from the scorching sun.

• Provide more seating along the beachfront.

• The handicap access at Cottage Place, which was partially destroyed by the storm, needs to be extended so that it can serve as a beach access ramp.

•Sandwich board pedestrian crossing signs are needed on Ocean Avenue at each street leading to the beach with repainted cross walks, and yellow curbs for safety and to ensure cars are not parking illegally.

• Zigzag  fencing at the south end of the Ocean Avenue needs replacing for the safety of walkers, runners, and high speed bikers.

• All organizations that use Ocean Avenue for their events should be required to pay a fee to the city to help restore the boardwalk and to help finance these much needed projects.

• The southern end of Ocean Blvd. needs to be made safer for people to get to the oceanfront. More cross walks, more pedestrian crossing signs, flashing lights, and speeding ticket enforcement are needed.

Committee member Dennis Sherman said his group has sold shirts and sweatshirts over the past year to raise money for these potential projects.