Community Corner

West End Beach Access Unlikely This Summer

Mayor says lifeguards will still be at West End's beaches

City officials say they are doing everything they can to restore as many beach access points in Long Branch as possible.

However, West End's old access points "won't be usable" this summer, Mayor Adam Schneider said in a recent interview.

Schneider said the damaged bluff and roadway will not allow the access points to be accessible.

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"There's no way to get people on and off and you have to be able to do that, especially if there is an emergency," Schneider said.

Schneider said there will still be lifeguards stationed at West End's beaches, but that people will have to enter the beach further north and walk down to West End.

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"We will have as many "access points" open as we can," he said.

Most beach access points will likely be at Cottage Place, North Bath Avenue, Pavilion Avenue and Morris Avenue, City Administrator Howard Woolley has said. Pier Village's beach access ramps and ones on the promenade are also ready to go for the summer.

Schneider said he has seen some estimates on what it will cost to rebuild the city's bluff, sea wall and described it as a "huge number."

Those figures will be submitted to FEMA and the city will await how much it will be reimbursed for those projects.

Schneider said none of these projects, regardless of funding, will start until the city's beaches are replenished. Officials recently stated beach replenishment could be coming as soon as this summer.


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