Ocean City Allows State to Move Forward With Corson's Inlet Boardwalk Project

In 2012, representatives from the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry proposed a 300-foot boardwalk to connect 59th Street to Corson’s Inlet State Park.

At the time, the proposal allowed bicyclists and pedestrians to to travel from the end of West Avenue at 59th Street onto the proposed boardwalk.

Since then, the state relented on the bicyclist portion of the wording, and pictures displayed during Thursday night’s council meeting indicated that the boardwalk would not be big enough or comfortable enough for bicycle riding, or skateboarding.

However, the biking portion of the proposal still weighed on the mind of Councilman Peter Guinosso, who provided the dissenting voice in a 6-1 vote to allow the state to move forward with the project.

Guinosso cited residents in the area who voiced their disapproval with the project, and said he didn’t understand why taxpayer money needed to be spent when there is already an entrance to the park at 59th Street and Central Avenue.

Other members of council indicated the state was funding the project, so Ocean City taxpayers would not be footing the bill.

“Where do you think the state gets their money? They don’t have a printing press up there,” said Guinosso, who was also concerned with the environmental impact. “You can’t say they’re not going to use taxpayer money. They’re absolutely going to use taxpayer money, and I just wonder do we really need to do this.”

The State needed City Council’s approval because Ocean City has jurisdiction over expansions on 59th Street and West Avenue that were never constructed.

The State visited the City prior to Superstorm Sandy, when Michael Allegretto was Council President.

“They met with members of council on site and they gave a presentation,” said Allegretto, adding that the city was ready to move forward before Sandy put the project on the back burner. “ … They came back and they asked us about it again.”

Members of council expressed concern that if the State didn’t invest money in this project, it would go elsewhere.

“They have a budget and if they don’t enhance this park, they’ll enhance a park somewhere else,” Councilman Michael DeVlieger said. “I want our parks and resources to be the best they can be.”

Councilman Keith Hartzell added that once residents learned the biking portion was off the table after he spoke with them, they were on board with project.

Council members agreed there are bound to be bike riders who disobey the law, but most felt it was unlikely given the proposed surface and parameters.

Even after Thursday night’s approval, there will be a series of public hearings and Mayor Jay Gillian must still sign off on any legislation approved by council.

“Michael came to me and told me about the state’s proposal and said we want to sign this and I told council to go talk to their constituents,” Gillian said. “ … I still need more information and this is far from over.”

Gillian said he will make the decision that’s best for Ocean City.