Long Branch's Branchport Park Upgrades To Be Ready By Early Nov.

LONG BRANCH, NJ — Upgrades to Branchport Park should be complete by early November, Mayor John Pallone announced Tuesday. The City matched a State Green Acres Program grant of $750,000 to upgrade the bulkhead and boat ramps.

The City is replacing the bulkhead on both sides of the small creek that flows between Branchport Park into the Shrewsbury River.

“The bulkhead has significantly deteriorated over the years, making it more difficult fish or crab from the Park," Pallone said in a statement.

Long Branch is also replaced the old boat ramp with a wider structure. The City added a floating dock for easier access for boaters.

"We want more people to use the river for boating," said Council President Bill Dangler. "Fewer people have done so in recent years."

Officials set a goal of focusing more attention on the Shrewsbury River as an asset for Long Branch. Branchport Park is at the intersection of Branchport and Atlantic Avenues on the Branchport Creek. It's the longest branch of the Shrewsbury River, for which the city is named.

The adjacent neighborhood, called Branchport, is one of the oldest sections of Long Branch, and served as the City’s port for steamships carrying passengers and cargo through the early 20th century.

“Access to the river was much greater when I was a kid, and there were piers and docks for fishing and boating all along the Shrewsbury," Pallone said. "Residential development closed a lot of the access. We’re trying to change that with the improvements to Branchport Park, and will look at other options in the future."

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