Controversy Over 'Love Locks' In Point Pleasant Beach Continues

POINT PLEASANT BEACH – Are they staying up or are they going down?

The controversy over the Point Pleasant Beach Council's decision to replace the fence where the locks have become a recent tradition – and a local favorite – continues. And the handling of the situation continues to draw the ire of local residents who have come to love the tradition.

Twenty-two locks that were rehung on the fence at the north end of the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, and were once removed without warning, reportedly were – once again – removed.

Mayor Paul Kanitra said the town, under the previous administration, put a sign up and set the precedent of removing the locks.

"That said, our arts committee met tonight (Monday night) and is continuing to try and identify a metal installation for the inlet parking lot that will allow for the locks to be placed there as an alternative," he said.

But the town's actions don't appear to be satisfying everyone.

"As a nearly life-long resident of PPB I feel I need to apologize for the heartless action of the 'town' for again, removing locks that were hung in memorial of loved ones that are no longer with us, symbols of love that is alive and well and just the pure joy of publicly stating ‘you are in love,’ " wrote long-time photographer Tom Spapder.

Now it's anybody's guess what's going to happen next.

The Point Pleasant Beach Council recently voted to spend more than $2,000 to replace a fence near the Manasquan Inlet where they have become a spot for sightseers – as well as those who wanted to show their love for somebody else.

Former Mayor Stephen Reid said last year that he wasn't happy with the council's decision, and it only got worse after DPW workers were told to cut the locks, even though they typically go right back up again.

"I was notified that our DPW was taken down the locks," he said. "Not happy to hear that because I never asked for the locks to be taken down."

"I was not happy to hear that our DPW who does a great job have to waste its time cutting off the locks," he added.

Kanitra, speaking last year while he served as a councilman, said he can definitely see both sides on the love-lock situation.

"On one side, the sheer numbers of them block the view at the inlet and the combined weight damaged the fence so badly it needed to be replaced, which cost the taxpayers’ money," he said.

"On the other side, they were great expressions of love and I thought having an art installation somewhere else might be a good solution to allow people somewhere non-damaging to put them," he said.

"Unfortunately, the council didn’t seem to have an appetite for doing that when I brought it up."

The locks followed the tradition of cities, where they have served as memorials, too. Paris is known for them as are places in Rome, New York City and elsewhere.

Some were even engraved, many just with sharpie markers. Some were unmarked.

The decision hasn't pleased a number of people who enjoyed the tradition of visiting the inlet area at the end of the boardwalk and getting a look at the symbols of love.

One person wrote that she hung her first lock in memory of her son. She did it because they spent many days in Point Pleasant Beach either fishing, eating pizza and going to the beach.

"I wanted to return to a place of brighter days – the days and weeks past, and I found myself looking forward to coming to a safe place which I thought celebrated love in such a simple way," said the person.