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SAVE OCEAN AVENUE COMMITTEE NEWS
June 12, 2019
Hello everyone, hope you are all well,
Welcome to the
SOA committee news of the ocean front, boardwalk and only two traffic free green
acre open space linear parks along the boardwalk on Ocean Avenue, both at
Brighton Avenue south and at the north promenade, before Seven Presidents Park.
The SOA
committee was created in 2007as part of the Long Branch Coalition of
Condominium Associations to stop the city from opening the traffic free linear
parks to vehicles and traffic. Our efforts were successful with 4000 people
signing a petition and the city of Long Branch withdrawing their ordinance.
Our goals then as is now is to; enhance the
boardwalk and green acre parks with art, culture and history of long Branch,
create a safe bike path from south to north and make Ocean Avenue and Ocean
Boulevards as safe as the can be for pedestrians and traffic to cross and ride
upon.
With the new
mayor and council many good and wonderful things are happening in Long Branch.
A beach for the disabled has opened at North Bath Avenue so they can have a
place on the sand and also in floating wheel chairs to get into the water. The
mayor has agreed to expanding the shade and flower park at West End Avenue to
other areas north and shade areas and picnic tables at bath houses going north along
the boardwalk. We have asked for the boardwalk to be marked, so runners and
walkers can know the distance they traveled on the boards. Soon the taken down
4’ by 8 ‘art history scenes of the seven presidents’, the old fishing pier and
beach life will be put back up along the boardwalk. A resource committee is forming to help
implement these goals and new ideas, such as sculptures, mosaics on the
bathrooms and all along the boardwalk and green acre parks.
Visit our
website to get the latest information www.saveoceanave with a link to the LBCC website. Also respond to this email if others would
or family would like to get the SOA news
of the oceanfront. As always if you do not want to receive this communication
respond to me and I will take you off this list.
Take care
for now,
Dennis Sherman
Chair SOA and V.P. of the LBCC
GOALS of the SAVE OCEAN AVENUE COMMITTEE
The goals of the Save Ocean Avenue Committee continue to be:
1. Protect, beautify and enhance the two Green Acre Open Space Parks
along Ocean Avenue and the boardwalk.
2.
Improve the safety for pedestrians getting to the beach and boardwalk
along Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.
3. Help create a safe bikeway from the beginning of the boardwalk past
Seven President park to Monmouth beach.
4.
Improvements to the boardwalk: more shade and
resting areas, easy and safe beach access, additional art
projects, plantings, and historical references to the Seven
Presidents.
Historically Speaking:
The
Save Ocean Avenue Committee was created as a standing committee of the
Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Associations in 2007. The city of
Long Branch introduced an Ordinance to put traffic in the Green Acres
Park on Ocean Avenue next to the boardwalk at Brighton Avenue. After
obtaining more than four thousand signatures opposing this ordinance,
the city and council withdrew the ordinance and invited the SOA
committee to meet with the city on a regular basis to share its’ ideas
and goals. From 2007 to 2012 many goals and ideas of the committee were
implemented.
The
deteriorating boardwalk was almost completely redone as well as safety
improvements made to Ocean Avenue along the boardwalk and to crossing
Ocean boulevard more safely. Access points to the beach were clearly
labeled and new signs, and street signs were put up at each beach
entrance and street corner leading to the boardwalk. Also installed
along the boardwalk were bicycle racks, doggie bag dispensers, more
benches, crossing signs, showers on the beaches, and Green Acres signs
identifying the open space no traffic Green Acres Parks. A red-
orange painted bike path was painted and lettered in both the south and
north green acres parks along the boardwalk and north promenade. Four
by eight historical paintings of the seven presidents, old fishing
pier, beach scenes and old boardwalk and pier were attached to all the
bathrooms along the boardwalk. Hurricane Sandy destroyed the boardwalk
in 2012 and the new boardwalk was not finally completed until 2015
without many of the enhancements that were put in place before the
hurricane.
The
Save Ocean Avenue Committee continued to propose to the city at council
meetings many more ideas and improvements to beautify and
enhance the boardwalk with art, the history of Long Branch and the
influence of the Seven Presidents on the city’s businesses, new hotels
and oceanfront. The Long Branch boardwalk is unique with the art and
history of the bluffs and the only two green acres open space linear
parks that are traffic free along the boardwalk for everyone to use
safely.
Pallone Enters Mayors Race
John
Pallone, a current Long Branch city council member, has entered the
Mayor's race in a challenge to Adam Schneider. Pallone's
five member ticket includes incumbent Councilwoman Mary Jane
Celli. The election will be held in May of this year.
While
the Save Ocean Avenue committee has worked well with the city and
many of our goals have been attained in the past much of our recent
success has been because of our very good working realtionship with
Pallone and Celli and we would certainly like to see that relationship
continued. We have found them to be extremely interested in and
attentive to the needs of the community.
We
believe that the new candidates will be accessible to everybody in Long
Branch and will listen to what the residents have to say. All are experienced, successful leaders from the city of Long Branch and can do a great job for us all.
Candidate
Pallone and his entire team will be available Next Tuesday at IAMA
center from 6:30 to 9:30 P.M. Take this opportunity to meet and
speak to all the candidates and tell them what's on your mind.
Thank you,Dennis Sherman, Chairman
Save Ocean Avenue Committee
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Long
Branch Mayor Still Putting Cars
in the Green Acres Park
May 31, 2017 - Common
sense dictates
that when you put cars and traffic in the same space as people, it
becomes a
more dangerous place to be. This is especially true when there has been
no
safety study done, only a goggle picture of the streets involved. No
cars or
traffic have occupied this space for at least the last 50 years and it
is being
done during the three busiest months of the summer. New traffic mixed
with
walkers, joggers, skateboarders, roller bladders, dog walkers and bikes
just
doesn't make sense. It is the mayor’s plan, quietly put
forward at a
workshop before the council meeting and hardly discussed with the
public or by
the city council which voted against the plan last summer.
At last week’s
council
meeting, May 23, three members of the city council listened to people
who
spoke, since the Save Ocean Avenue Committee accidentally found out
about the
mayor’s traffic plan at the city council workshop meeting May 9. Green
Acres
and the mayor and city have received many letters, complaints and phone
calls
leading up to this second council meeting. Many people have been saying
no, to
new traffic in the Green Acres open space park at Brighton Avenue. When
the
council was asked to vote on the traffic proposal at this meeting from
the
audience, only one council member voiced his concerns about the mayor’s
plan. The only other two members who
were there, sided with the mayor’s plan, and said they would think
about the
public’s comments and could always change their minds if the plan
didn't work.
One audience speaker asked, Isn't it a high price to pay if one child
or person
is hurt to consider changing your mind?
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This new traffic
plan was
never announced and there was no public input, comment or explanation
of where
those not allow on the boardwalk could walk or go. There is no sidewalk
at
Brighton Avenue to West End Avenue. There will only be cars stopping
and going,
doors opening and closing, where no traffic has been allowed for many
years.
The Green Acres open space linear park is for recreation and
conservation of
outdoor areas and is intended for public use and enjoyment. Thus summer
It is
being taken away by the city during the busiest and most dangerous time
of the
year for pedestrians.
Adding additional parking
on Second Avenue at the old school is a good idea, but at what price to
the
safety being paid by beach goers? The boulevard with its four lanes of
heavy
north and south bound traffic at high rates of speed is already very
dangerous
to cross. The added traffic going north will only increase traffic
congestion
and create more danger for pedestrians crossing Ocean Boulevard.
Instead of
wasting city resources and taxpayers dollars on taking away a park, the
city
should work to make Ocean Boulevard safer to cross.
It
doesn't make sense to
put cars and traffic with people when you don't have to. The public is
needlessly being put in harm’s way with more cars and traffic in the
Green
Acres linear park. Don't
mix cars and
traffic with people. It’s a bad idea. The city has already painted the
traffic
lines for traffic to start in the park and is still intent on following
the
mayor’s decision.
Dennis Sherman
Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee www.saveoceanave.com
YOUR VOICE COUNTS!
KEEP UP YOUR CALLS AND LETTERS
Green Acres 609
984 0631 Judeth Piccinini
Bureau Chief
Mayor Schneider 732 571 5686 ascschneider@longbranch.org
Editor of
the Link 732 222
4300 www.Thelinknews.com
Asbury
Park Press 732 643 4026
kcowart@app.com
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MESSAGE FROM DENNIS SHERMAN:
Hello
Everyone
5/19/2017
Please
keep your calls and letters coming to stop new traffic in the Green
Acres linear park on Ocean Avenue at Brighton Avenue. It’s working and
calls and letters are being directed at the mayor, council,
assemblyman, senators, freeholders, green acres, and the newspapers. Your voices make a
difference and need to be heard!
The mayor has stated publicly there is
little or no opposition to his plan to increase beach revenues and more
beach access at the expense of public safety. Last summer the green
acres park had no traffic ,allowing bikes, skateboarders, roller
bladder’s, joggers
all safe entrance to the park and boardwalk without cars
and traffic stopping and going, doors opening and closing. If the city
moves ahead with its’ plan as it intends to do, this will all change.
There has been no public hearing or
meeting. The city council was told it’s solely the mayor’s decision. The city council has not
been allowed to vote. There is no official traffic study of the plan’s
impact on pedestrian safety and creating more traffic congestion. Green
acres is allowing the plan, with no public comment and giving away the
public trust of preserving the open space for people and families.
This Tuesday, May 23, 2017,
at 7:30 PM, at 344 Broadway, Long Branch, 07740, the last
city council meeting is being held before Memorial Day when the plan is
implemented. This is an opportunity to be heard and tell the mayor and
council how you feel. Please
attend.
Your
voices count and can make a difference!
Dennis Sherman
chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee www.saveoceanave.com
Keep up
your calls and letters they
count,
Green Acres 609
984 0631 Judeth Piccinini
Bureau Chief
Mayor Schneider 732 571 5686
ascschneider@longbranch.org
Editor of
the Link 732 222
4300 www.Thelinknews.com
Asbury
Park Press 732 643 4026
kcowart@app.com
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A
Bad Idea Again Putting Cars Next to the Boardwalk
The city is planning to put cars on
Brighton Avenue next to the boardwalk.
For the first time in 50 years the mayor
again wants to put cars and traffic on Brighton Avenue going north to
exit at West End Avenue along with the exiting southbound traffic from
Vine Court. All this traffic can than only turn north on Ocean
Boulevard. This Green Acres open space linear park is intended for
family and peoples recreation use without traffic.
This ill-conceived idea makes the Ocean
Avenue roadway and getting to the beach and boardwalk more dangerous
for everyone. Where are the bikes, dog walkers, joggers, skate
boarders, roller skaters, and hover boards all supposed to go?
There is no sidewalk along that stretch of roadway and big signs
prevent anyone, but walkers the right to use the
boardwalk. Imagine cars parking, stopping and going, doors
opening and dropping off people, where the boardwalk starts with bikes
and many people.
There has been little and almost no
public opportunity to comment on this plan. What makes matters worse is
that the mayor and acting business administrator announced this change
at a city workshop meeting as a nonspecific agenda item May 9,
2017. The city council is allowed to to vote or make the final
decision on the mayors decision. Green Acres is not opposing this new
traffic plan.
Some of the reasons given to mix traffic
with people were; convenient beach access, better traffic flow,
increased beach attendance and revenues. The mayor said there were very
few objections to these plans. A
plan that was not made public this entire year and opposed my many
people last year when the city first introduced the idea. It is
shameful that a pristine open space park next to the ocean and used by
the public safely will be given over to cars and traffic in a small
roadway intended for bikes, families and anyone not allowed on the
board walk. Right
now people can be dropped off 12 feet from the boardwalk at the ends of
Brighton and West End Avenues, with handicap parking available at the
ends of each street. What a terribly high price to pay by the public to
have to give up green acres open space for convenience, more beach
revenues, and the public’s safety.
Only the public can stop this from
happening. Call Green acres and the Mayor of Long Branch to voice your
concerns
Green Acre
609 984 0631
Mayor Schneider 732 571 5686
aschneider@longbranch.org
Dennis
Sherman
Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee
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Cars
and Traffic on Ocean Avenue Next to the Boardwalk
Since
April when the new boardwalk opened, the Save Ocean Avenue Committee of
Long
Branch with its many supporters has been working very hard to convince
the city
to keep cars off Ocean Avenue in the Green Acres Paved Linear Park. The
cities
plan was to put cars along the boardwalk from Brighton Avenue
north to
West End Avenue in the Green Acres Park. Our efforts opposing this plan
have gotten
support from hundreds of people, the Long Branch Coalition of
Condominiums
Association, residential families, visitors, boardwalk walkers,
businesses,
Green Acres, freeholders, and politicians, etc. Many phone
calls were made
and letters written. So far this effort of many hundreds of
people has
been successful.
The
city of Long Branch has just opened the Ocean Avenue roadway
for more
traffic from Howland Avenue south on Ocean Avenue and out on
West End
Avenue. They left a narrow path next to the boardwalk for bikes,
skateboarders,
roller bladders, tricycles, etc. While this is not ideal, it
is better
than putting cars into the Green Acres Park with people, beginning at
Brighton
Avenue going north and exiting at West End Avenue. However, the new
traffic
pattern just instituted, increases traffic volume and flow from Howland
Avenue
south along Ocean Avenue exiting out through West End Avenue.
There is a
lack of signage and speed limit signs in that area and no sidewalks for
pedestrians and dog walkers to walk on. Ideally, it would have been
better to
keep Howland Avenue and West End Avenue dead ends as it was which
already had
the positive effect of reducing the traffic flow and the amount of cars
going
past Vine Court keeping it safer for pedestrians. The new traffic flow
and
amount of cars, trucks and motorcycles, now in that area, has already
increased
significantly, with traffic speeding down Ocean Avenue, stopping along
the
roadway and fighting for the few parking places in Vine Court and in
that area,
and then only being able to exit at West End Avenue.
As
of now there are no cars and traffic at the beginning of the boardwalk
at
Brighton Avenue and a narrow bike path at Vine Court
which then goes up to North Bath Avenue
where
traffic begins. It is wonderful to be able to enjoy the new
boardwalk,
bluffs and ocean as a paved Green Acres Park. At least now there is a
balance
of keeping cars and traffic out of the Green Acres Park. Pedestrian
safety on
Ocean Avenue should be of the highest priority. Let’s hope there are no
more
plans for cars and traffic to mix with people and bikes along the
boardwalk in
the Green Acres Linear Park and beyond.
Part
of the intent of the state’s Green Acre park program is to preserve
open space
that is interconnected, protects the environment, is scenic, historical
and
recreational and used by the public in a safe, enjoyable environment. Let’s keep it that way. Thank you all
for your help and efforts to
preserve the paved Green Acres Linear Park in Long Branch by the
ocean.
Dennis
Sherman
Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee of Long
Branch
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The
Save Ocean Avenue Logo of Long
Branch
The
save ocean avenue logo of the city of
Long Branch was created in 2007 when the
city tried to put cars and
traffic next to the boardwalk on Ocean Avenue in the protected paved
Green
Acres Linear Park. The SOA committee was formed as part of the Long
Branch
Coalition of Condominium Associations (LBCC) and together got thousands
of
signatures to petition the city not to pass the ordinance. The
committees
name was intended to save the boardwalk and roadway from the cities
intention
to put cars and traffic next to the boardwalk. The city tried to do
this in
2007 and again in 2016. The city withdrew their 2007 ordinance
after much
of our committee’s efforts, attending city council meetings
and going to
the state capital to petition Green Acres. Our group then
started meeting
with the city to help improve, create and make the cities plan of a new
boardwalk come true with public input. This included improving Ocean
Avenue and
Ocean Boulevard so people could get to the beach safely. Part of the
plan was
to be able to walk and bike all of Ocean Avenue north through Seven
Presidents
Park safely to Monmouth beach. Our committee got the city and
city
council to name the boardwalk and bike path, "Seven Presidents
Ocean
Walk", displayed on the SOA logo.
The SOA logo is a picture that was designed by graphic
artist, Ryan
Sherman, of Philadelphia, to represent these efforts and
history. There
are seven large waves that represent the seven United States presidents
who vacationed
in Long Branch and contributed to the history, culture and development
of the
city. The logo has the sky, sun, seagulls, lifeguard stand, beach,
seven waves,
boardwalk, railings and red bike path along the ocean
walk. The
SOA committee has its' own web site www.saveoceanave.com
that is interactive
and keeps the public informed and answers any questions of
visitors on
line. Every question, comment or complaint is responded to. More than
one
hundred people have signed up on the web site as supporters and
regularly get
updates on the boardwalk and roadway. There are also links to
other
important sights and past and current history of the SOA Committee. The
seven
colors of the logo were specifically chosen to show the Long Branch
ocean front,
seven president’s walk, board walk, roadway and bike
path.
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To
All Save Ocean Avenue Supporters
Thank you all for writing e mails, speaking at the last council meeting
and supporting a traffic free boardwalk, roadway and bike path in the
city of Long Branch.
At the last Long Branch City Council meeting the city agreed, not to
allow new traffic in the Green Acre Linear Park from Brighton Avenue
north to West End Avenue and keep all the streets leading to the
boardwalk closed from Brighton Avenue to South Bath Avenue. There will
also be a bike path starting at Brighton Avenue with no
traffic up to South Bath Avenue. Cars and bikes can than
travel north as well.
The
city tentatively agreed to try this for a year. The Green Acres Park is
now completely traffic free for the first time in almost ten years
since our group stopped the city from putting traffic in the Ocean
Avenue Green Acres Park in 2007. We were able to get thousands of
people to sign petitions that we gave to
the city in opposition to the new traffic. The city allowed some
traffic but eliminated its idea for new traffic next to the boardwalk
and bike path.
For the first time since 2007, there are absolutely no
cars and traffic allowed in the Green Acres Linear park so children,
families, walkers, joggers, bikes, seniors, and everyone can enjoy a
beautiful, quiet and safe park without the fear of cars or traffic.
People
made the city council listen!
Our work is not finished until there is a safe Ocean Avenue bikeway
that goes north and south to
the Green Acres
Linear Park north of Pier Village and until crossing Ocean Blvd. to get
to the beach is made safer. We gave the city mayor and council a
greenway plan to help make this happen.
See the following Green Way Ocean walk
Plan.
Thank you all for your efforts,
Dennis Sherman, Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee, and Vice
President of the Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Association
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April 18,
2016
Bike
Path Next to the Entire Boardwalk in Long Branch
The dedication of the new Long Branch boardwalk and official
opening was a wonderful event and a long time in
coming. The city and all who did the hard work to complete
the boardwalk should be congratulated. Now, it is beautiful, quiet and
safe with no cars and traffic.
For
many years before Sandy and after Sandy, we have fought hard and worked
with the city and city council to improve and develop the
Long Branch Boardwalk, Ocean Avenue roadway, and making crossing Ocean
Boulevard to get to the boardwalk and beaches safer. The city
of Long Branch is very fortunate to be the only beach
community with Historical Bluffs, a Seven Presidents past
history and two Green Acres traffic free linear parks next to
the boardwalk overlooking the ocean.
The
city is now deciding about the finishing touches for the
boardwalk and the final “quality of life” issues for all the residents
and people who use the boardwalk and roadways. We urge the
city in the strongest of terms to keep up their efforts and do
the following, which many hundreds and hundreds of people have told us
over the years and especially now.
1.
Restore the entire bike path along Ocean
Avenue from Brighton Avenue north and connect it with the
bike path in the north Green Acres linear traffic
free park and to Seven President’s park..
2.
Not allow any traffic or parking in the
Green Acres Linear Parks or any parking next
to the boardwalk, to allow room for the bike path.
3.
Continue all efforts at restoring the Seven
Presidents art history boards and enhancements in the Green Acre linear
parks and along the boardwalk with shade areas, landscaping, more
benches, bicycle racks, doggie bags, exercise stations,
etc.
The
city now has in its power to make a new
boardwalk that is not just a restored
one. The new boardwalk can be a great one
and unique to Long Branch with traffic free parks and a connected bike
path for people and families to use and enjoy along the entire
ocean front safely and free of traffic.
Dennis
Sherman, Chairman,
SaVe Ocean Avenue Committee of Long Branch
www.saveoceanave.com
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March
10, 2016
An Open Letter to the
Long Branch City Council
Hello,
we hope you all are doing well,
The new Long Branch boardwalk is nearing
completion quickly and thanks to the efforts of so many people, it
looks wonderful. We
are writing to each of you because of the safety concerns we have about
the Green Acre boardwalk parks and Ocean Avenue along the new
boardwalk.
Many of us, the Save Ocean Avenue Committee of Long Branch, the Long
Branch Coalition of Condominium Associations, homeowners,
visitors and taxpayers, do not want additional parking along the west
side of Ocean Avenue or in the Green Acre Linear parks. We also feel
that the bike path from Brighton Avenue north should be restored to the
way it was before hurricane Sandy. There should be no cars, traffic or
parking in the south green acres linear park and along the west side of
Ocean Avenue. Howland Avenue should continue to be a dead end street to
help decrease traffic and improve pedestrian safety in the Green Acre
Linear park. These ideas are not new and we have been proposing them to
the city for a long time.
Long Branch has one of the only
boardwalks overlooking the historic bluffs and ocean with a rich
history of the seven presidents who visited here. The boardwalk was
even named by the previous city council, “Seven Presidents Ocean Walk
“, and historic 4 by 8 ft displays were put up on
all the bathrooms. The traffic free south and north Green Acre
Linear Parks are the only open spaces children and families can play,
walk, stroll and bike without excessive traffic, along the ocean and
boardwalk. More parking, more cars, more congestion, more liter and
less pedestrian safety is the wrong choice for Ocean Avenue and the new
boardwalk.
The City Council has the chance to make
the new boardwalk and roadway a masterpiece of good planning for the
people to use safely, without fear of more traffic and congestion and
with the restoration of the wonderful bike path that connected the
entire boardwalk.
Thank you for your consideration,
Dennis Sherman, Chairman Save Ocean
Avenue Committee
and the Long Branch Coalition of
Condominium Associations
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MEETING WITH THE CITY
February 3, 2016
The Save Ocean Avenue Committee
met
with the city and discussed thirteen key issues(see below) concerning
the new
boardwalk, which included safety issues
crossing Ocean Avenue and Ocean Boulevard to get to the
beaches.
We are optimistic from what we
heard from
the city that many of the issues we have been advocating for since
before Hurricane
Sandy and issues in this agenda, will be addressed and that the
boardwalk will
be opened by this March or April. Our
concerns for no traffic in the Green Acre boardwalk linear parks, more
benches,
shade areas, a bicycle path, bike racks, art history boards, marked
signage and
entrance ways to the boardwalk, doggie bag containers, and more
landscaping in
the linear parks were discussed. We also discussed how Green Acre
funding for
the linear parks is being used and new pavers and railings will be
completed on the promenade, north of the
hotel, in the north Green Acres linear park.
We hope you will support the Save
Ocean
Avenue Committee. Visit our web site www.saveoceanave.com , see the history of
our group,
sign up as volunteers and ask any questions
on the website and make recommendations for the new boardwalk.
Dennis Sherman,
Chairman Save Ocean Avenue Committee of
Long
Branch
1.
What is the traffic
pattern and direction of traffic for Ocean Avenue south of Pier
village? Will
traffic be reduced or eliminated south of Pier village?
2. Can Howland Avenue
remain a dead end as
it is now?
3.
What is the new
scope of
work for the new CDBG grants and the new Green Acres grant monies
for boardwalk and parks?
4. Will there be more
benches along Ocean Avenue and the dead end streets with shade areas.?
5.
Please update us
on the
use of previous green acre funds from the new railings and paved
roadway, and
remediation of pavers on the promenade that were obtained before
hurricane
Sandy?
6.
Will the green
acre
linear parks at the dead end streets, be landscaped with shrubbery,
more
benches, bike racks and shade areas?
7.
Will the bike
path from
Brighton Avenue north up to and through Seven Presidents Park out to
Monmouth
beach be restored?
8.
Will there be
stone or
marked entrances to the new boardwalk at Brighton Avenue and Seaview
Avenue
with signage noting the only two Green Acre Linear traffic free parks
in the
city of Long Branch?
9.
Will
the city call the boardwalk “Seven
President’s Ocean Walk” in the
signage as
the previous city council passed?
10.
Will the 4 by 8
ft. art
history panels be put back up on the bathrooms and boardwalk and where?
11.
When will doggie
bag
containers be restored to the south end of the boardwalk? They have
been absent
since Christmas 2015. Could at least one temporary doggie bag container
be put
up at the south green acres linear park?
12.
What
is the latest information on the new
boardwalk and when will the new boardwalk be opened for the community
to use?
13.
Safety
crossing Ocean
Blvd. to the beach and at the Ocean Ave. / Dunkin Donuts crossing,
remains to
be dangerous. Can the city meet with us to discuss and involve the
Monmouth
County Highway Department?
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MEETING OCTOBER 6,
2015
COUNCIL MEMBERS
MEETING
The
following 10 items were submitted by the Save Ocean Ave Committee at a
meeting with several council members. We hope to be
have an
update on results of the meeting very soon.
1. For
winter can
a porta John bathroom at Cottage Place
be put in?
2. Update
on Morris
Avenue boardwalk connection to Pier village?
3. Update
on the use
of previous green acre funds for new railings, new paved roadway?
4. Consider
keeping
Howland Avenue closed as is the case now as one of the dead end streets
in the
Green Acre linear parks and reducing traffic along the new boardwalk
roadway.
5. Will
all the 4 by
8 foot art history boards along new boardwalk and on new bathrooms be
put back?
6. For 2014
and 2015 what items were asked for in
the(Community Development Block
Grant Program(CDBG) for the new boardwalk and roadway. Could we have a
copy?
7. The
Green Acre
Linear Parks at the dead end streets, should all be landscaped with
shrubbery,
more benches, bike racks and shade areas on the west side of Ocean
Avenue.
8. Will
the bike path
from Brighton Avenue north up to and through Seven Presidents Park out
to
Monmouth beach be restored?
9. Will entrances to the new
boardwalk at Brighton
Avenue and Seaview Avenue with signage noting the only two Green Acre
Linear
traffic free parks in the city of Long Branch
and also noting on the signs and
entrances, the boardwalk was named by
the previous city council the “Seven
President’s Ocean Walk” be included in the new boardwalk.
10. Consider
Mediterranean palm trees for the new boardwalk proven to withstand the
Long
Branch winters.
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Save Ocean Avenue Committee Update
April
30, 2015
Hello
Save Ocean Avenue Supporters:
We
hope you are well. Spring has finally arrived and we have
some good news for you! On April 22, 2015, our committee met
with Councilwoman Celli and Councilman Pallone. They shared
the news that a $14.4 million dollar contract has been awarded to
George Harms Construction for the repair of the bluffs and the
construction of the new boardwalk.
Here
are some of the details:
- The
boardwalk will be 16 feet wide from Brighton Ave. to N. Bath Ave. and
will increase to 20 feet wide from N. Bath to Morris Ave.
(The stretch from Morris to Melrose Terrace is the
responsibility of Kushner Companies, the developer of Pier Village
III.) Composite boards will be used for the boardwalk.
- There
will be 4 handicap-accessible ramps along the boardwalk providing
access to the beaches.
- Sixty-three
lamp posts, similar to those at Pier Village, will be placed along the
west side of the boardwalk.
- New
railings will match those in Pier Village.
- Three
comfort stations will be placed along the new boardwalk. The one at
West End will include a concession space. The ones at Cottage
Place and N. Bath Ave. will include extra space that can be turned into
concession stands if the City chooses to fund them in the future.
- Construction
is scheduled to begin June 1, 2015. The completion of the
boardwalk is scheduled for May 20, 2016, and the comfort
station/pavilions are scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2016. The
project close-out is scheduled for October 31, 2106.
Our committee will
continue to advocate for pedestrian safety on Ocean Ave. and Ocean
Boulevard. This includes crosswalk, traffic, and bicycle
signage. Safety is a priority, especially
with the construction crews, vehicles, etc. in the area.
We
have also asked for additional benches to be placed along the southern
end of Ocean Ave.
THE SAVE OCEAN AVENUE COMMITTEE
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SAVE
OCEAN AVENUE COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEETING WITH
J.
PALLONE AND DR. CELLI
The
Save Ocean Ave. committee met with J.Pallone and Dr. M.J. Celli on Aug
6, 2014
to discuss the current situation and present input for the new
boardwalk.
Following is the information presented to the council members:
1. Community Input - we ask for
information about the boardwalk
be made public, and a community advisory committee be created for input
until the
new boardwalk is built. We also ask for projected dates of construction
start
and completion. We request the city council to pass an
ordinance/resolution, to
create a community advisory committee to work with the city on the new
boardwalk, bluffs and roadway like other towns and cities and if denied give us a
written response why.
2. Boardwalk and
Roadway
Recommendations - Based
on input and feedback from hundreds of SOA supporters, presidents of
condominiums of the LBCC, the interactive SOA website and volunteers
and seven
years of working with Mr. Woolley, the mayor and the past two city
councils we
submit our official ideas and recommendations for review and inclusion
in
planning the new boardwalk and ask for a written response from the city
of Long
Branch if it denies this request.
Green
Acre Linear Parks -
signage identifying Green Acres traffic free linear
parks, appropriate entrances
at Brighton and Seaview
Avenue to boardwalk and roadway parks, landscaped areas, lighted
sitting areas, bike
stands and bike path full length of
boardwalk, signage prohibiting traffic, appropriate art and history of
Long
Branch information, paved marked surfaces of roadway for all users,
New
Boardwalk and Roadway
- wide
as
possible boardwalk with lights and enough places to sit, roadway for
pedestrians along boardwalk along entire length of boardwalk to Pier
Village,
signs identifying boardwalk as Seven Presidents Ocean Walk as passed
ordinance
spells out (see separate attached Seven Presidents Ocean Walk proposal
and
history story boards pictures), add
flower
pots, hanging flower pots and signage on poles similar
to Pier Village, bike
path on roadway connecting entire
roadway from beginning to Seven President ‘s Park and through to
Monmouth
Beach, enough
bathrooms and punch outs
over bluffs and concession stands, enough handicap accessibility ramps
especially at south end, police emergency call boxes, enough doggie bag
dispensers for entire boardwalk, enough garbage and recycling places,
year
round snow removal for and garbage removal on south Ocean Avenue in the
linear
park, entire roadway and perpendicular streets leading to boardwalk
especially at
south end, art-boards, art sculptures, historical and informational
places
along boardwalk, places for exercise and stretching areas, gazebos and
shade
areas, public changing rooms and showers at every beach access point,
access
points clearly identified and named, perpendicular streets leading to
boardwalk
identified, repaint crosswalks on Ocean Avenue, paint yellow curbs for no parking for pedestrian
safety, not enough
sandwich board pedestrian crossing signs on Ocean Avenue, enough
pedestrian and
bike safety signs posted, enough
public
safety signs along entire boardwalk.
3. Unresolved
Issues Along
Ocean Avenue - weeds
growing everywhere, three foot high weeds in pots in boardwalk leading
to
boardwalk from Brighton Avenue, weeds surrounding benches on roadway,
no doggie
bags in dispensers for last four weeks, stool all over sidewalks and
roadway,
increased graffiti on poles, garbage receptacles, orange barriers etc.
, bike
direction sign removed from South Bath Avenue, only one hurricane
damaged sign
with hole left barely hanging up, specials not regularly at South Bath
during
weekdays, fence sticking out in pedestrian pathway, babies soil diaper
stuck in
fence along with other garbage, no green acres open space signs in
north
linear park, does not seem anyone inspects south Ocean Avenue regularly.
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JUNE 5,
2014 UPDATE LETTER
Hello Friends and Supporters,
Over the winter our committee has been trying to get the City of Long Branch to
remedy the post-Sandy conditions along the waterfront as we enter our second summer season since the storm.
We prepared some short-term recommendations
that addressed the lack of benches, unsafe and unsightly fencing
issues, no shade areas, cracked paver concerns north of Pier Village,
sand ramp issues, cracks and depressions in the Ocean Ave. roadway, and
no
handicap ramp at Cottage Place. We also addressed general safety
concerns including crossing Ocean Blvd.
and the confluence of bikers and walkers on Ocean Ave.
The City Council basically dismissed our requests
for action. Only
when you, our supporters, attended a meeting, spoke out, and then
followed up with emails did we get any action – some pot holes were
patched on Ocean Ave., additional benches were found for the boardwalk,
a new sand ramp was promised for the Great Lawn Beach, greater safety
was promised for the bike lanes on Ocean Avenue.
After
that, the City showed little
concern about the current conditions. Mostly, the Mayor and Council asked that everyone be patient until the new
boardwalk is built.
We know that the City has the daunting task of
rebuilding the boardwalk, but our contention is that there is a lack of
regard for the current unsafe and unsightly condition of the area.
Our committee then met with two council members at
the beginning of May. We again
made our
case regarding the issues
affecting the waterfront. They promised to advocate for us. The next
day, pedestrian crossing signs were placed on Ocean Blvd. Even more
benches started to appear on Ocean
Ave. and at beach entrances.
We then received a written report from the City regarding our
concerns. Following are some of the responses:
•
Six foot fence discussion - Department of Public Works has agreed that once the old boardwalk debris is removed, it will try to straighten
out the zigzag fencing where there are support poles available.
•
Potholes/Cracks on Ocean Ave -
DPW attributes these problems to damaged asphalt
and they cannot be filled without milling the road first. When the new boardwalk
is built, it will have to be redone.
•
Shade Areas -
Since 2008, we've been asking for a shade area somewhere between Pier Village and Brighton Ave., so that
people can get a break from the
scorching sun. The City's response is that there has never been a shade
area along
the boardwalk. Anything erected now would be too costly.
•
Extension of the concrete barrier that separates pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Ocean Ave. toward West End Ave. - The traffic department will look to address this
suggestion or find a way to accomplish the same goal.
•
Bicycle
riding on the east side
of
Ocean Ave. (between South Bath and Pier Village) -
Additional signage will be erected in the near future and special police
officers will monitor to make sure bikes are not on the pedestrian
walkway. If a problem continues, a special officer will be posted at South
Bath Ave
•
Ocean
Boulevard Safety -
The city reiterated what we were told two years ago by
the County. Flashing lights at crosswalks would
be dangerous. People would
push the button and assume that the vehicles would stop, giving pedestrians
a false sense of security. Our committee had asked for lowering the
speed limit in the summer, but the county traffic engineers did a
survey and determined it was not necessary.
They also didn't see enough justification for adding
a traffic light at Cottage or Matilda Terrace.
As
of this writing the city has made very little effort to address these
concerns. Progress
has been extremely slow with little concern for the safety of people
who use
Ocean Avenue up to Pier Village. The new boardwalk may not even be
started until
after next summer, which means a third year of an unsafe roadway and
fencing and no handicap accessible ramp for the south end of Ocean
Avenue
We
ask for your continued support as we see what the city will act upon
for this
summer. Your voice counts and can make a difference.
Thank
you
for your continued support and regards,
The
Save Ocean Avenue Committee
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ATTENTION!!!
Superstorm
Sandy wreaked havoc on our oceanfront! The City of Long Branch repaired
its beach access
points,
but has done nothing to improve the unsightly conditions along Ocean
Ave. We, the Save Ocean Avenue Committee, have been making the
following recommendations since the spring of 2013:
• Add more benches at the north and south end of Ocean Ave. (By the
way, what happened to all the
benches??? )
• Replace the 6'cyclone fencing and sand bags with the lower rails. The
zig-zag of the tall fencing eats up
walk space and is extremely unsightly.
• Repair the ramp at Cottage Place so that it's usable until such time
that it can be property restored to
meet ADA standards. According to the City, there have been no
complaints about the ramp.
• Provide at least one shaded area between Pier Village and Brighton
Ave. for the health and well-being of
walkers and beachgoers.
• Replace broken pavers north of Pier Village using the Green Acres
funds provided for this purpose.
• Replace the sand ramp at the Great Lawn entrance – carts are almost
impossible to use at this extremely
popular beach.
• Insure the safety of walkers, etc. considering all the bikers using
the same paths during the summer.
It
became obvious last July that the City was not willing to consider our
recommendations. Their insensitivity became even more apparent this
winter at two city council meeting when our committee again asked that
they consider these recommendations for the upcoming summer season.
It's been 17 months since the storm. Is this really the best they can
do? All of our recommendations have been rejected. The City will spend
no money to remedy these conditions and is unwilling to discuss its
vision of the new boardwalk with us.
JOIN US AT
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8
Our
committee represents all of you----home owners, condo owners, renters,
beachgoers, walkers, bicyclists, joggers, etc. If you're not happy with
the conditions along Ocean Ave., please join us at the next council
meeting and Speak Up about conditions along the Boardwalk.
City
Council Meeting
Tuesday,
April 8, 2014
7:30 PM
344
Broadway, Long Branch, NJ
We thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at the
meeting.
The Save Ocean Ave. Committee
http://www.saveoceanave.com |
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OCEAN AVE COMMITTEE - NEW
RECOMMENDATIONS FEBRUARY 2014
The Ocean
Avenue committee is committed to
continue
its’ work with the City of Long Branch to help recreate the new
boardwalk, roadways and
Green Acres Linear Parks, since all was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. We present the following
recommendations and ideas
from meetings with the presidents of condo associations and condo
boards and
members, from the interactive website,
with 150 volunteers and
from residents, visitors, walkers, joggers and people who daily use the
boardwalk, roadways and beaches all year long.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
UNTIL THE NEW BOARDWALK IS COMPLETED;
1.
Fix
the ramp at Cottage Place to allow more beach access this summer, until
the handicapped
access ramp can be
repaired at the south
end of the boardwalk and
provide a ramp
the same as at Pier Village.
2.
Replace
the unsightly six foot cyclone fencing south of North Bath Avenue to
increase
visitors to the beach and boardwalk, and allow full sight of the
beaches and
ocean.
3.
Make the
existing roadway path for walkers
safer. The walking path for pedestrians on the East side of south Ocean Avenue needs
signs for the management
of walkers, joggers and bikes, etc.
4.
Keep the
traffic flow one way
south from Morris Avenue to South Bath Avenue for the continued safety
of all
people using the pathway from Pier Village to Brighton Avenue. Extend
the bike
path north after the new boardwalk is built.
5.
Make more
places to sit along the
boardwalk
and
linear parks this summer, for the many people who will use the roadway
from
Brighton Avenue north to Seven Presidents Park.
WHEN
IT BECOMES POSSIBLE
1. Build the new south end Ocean Avenue
boardwalk as wide as possible.
2. Improve the
Green Acre linear parks with
shade areas, landscaped sitting areas and greenery.
3.
New traffic
signs are needed at the southern green acres linear park to prevent
vehicle
entry.
4. Follow
through on the plan to have entrance signs into the linear parks and
entire
boardwalk from north to south.
5.
Repaint the bike path
and complete it, from south to north.
Continue
to repaint the cross
walks, fire hydrant and no parking curbs to
improve pedestrian
safety, and parking.
Put
up more pedestrian sandwich board crossing
signs on each corner along Ocean Avenue with moving traffic. Sandwich
board
pedestrian crossing signs should be left out until November and put
back out in
March for pedestrian safety. Plow the south boardwalk for year round
use. Plow
all of Ocean Avenue, and the Green Acre Linear Parks for safety in the
winter
months.
6.
Continue to Improve
the safety of crossing Ocean
Blvd. Especially
from South Bath Ave. to
Brighton Ave to get
to the beach and
boardwalk. Increase signage , more safe speed enforcement, encouraging
county
improvements and speed reduction, and signal devices.
7.
Improve the Ocean Walk
with; historical information boards, art history boards, paintings,
maps at
beach access points, new street signs at roads leading to the
boardwalk,
banners , flower pots, new bathrooms, etc.
SUBMITTED TO THE LONG
BRANCH CITY COUNCIL AND
MAYOR
FEBRUARY 25, 2014
SAVE
OCEAN AVE. COMMITTEE ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2007:
- Petitioned to
keep the 2 Green Acres protected linear parks
along Ocean Ave. traffic free.
- Advocated for
dogs on the beach during the off-season and
helped get more doggie bag dispensers along Ocean Ave.
- Instrumental in
getting Port-a-John’s at Cottage Place
replaced with artistically painted bathrooms.
Requested handicap parking for easy
beach access.
- Initiated the
painting and installation of 6 historical pier
and beach paintings.
- Supported the
construction of a handicap ramp to the beach on
the south end of the boardwalk.
- Asked for street
signs naming intersecting streets Ocean Ave.
- Requested “Moby
Mats” at beach access points for easier
footing on the beach.
- Instrumental in
getting beachfront maps posted at every beach
access in case of an emergency.
- Worked with each
of Long Branch’s Public Safety Directors to
improve safety along the beachfront.
This included pedestrian crossing
signs, traffic signs, painted
crosswalks.
- Lobbied and met
with the Monmouth County Traffic Department
to discuss safety issues on Ocean Blvd.
We succeeded with getting digital
signage, pedestrian crossing signs and
painted crosswalks.
- Wrote letters of
support for the City to get grants for
traffic signal devices and lower speed limit on Ocean Blvd. to improve
the
safety of pedestrians crossing the road.
- Successfully met
with the State and Green Acres to advocate
for the approval of multiple city requests for funds to improve and
enhance the
2 Ocean Ave. linear parks. Contracts
were signed before Hurricane Sandy to replace boardwalk railings and
repave the
roadways.
- Proposed
bringing more historical recognition to the
boardwalk by naming it Seven Presidents Ocean Walk.
A resolution to that effect was
passed by the
City.
- Established an
interactive website www.saveoceanave.com for people to
learn more about us, make suggestions or complaints or to
share your ideas. The
SOA Committee and
the website represent all who use the Long Branch boardwalk---families,
visitors, homeowners condo
owners, renters. It
is the voice of anyone who cares about the
boardwalk. If you
care about and use the
boardwalk, join our 150 volunteers by registering online.
The Save Ocean
Ave Committee is a
subcommittee of the Long Branch Coalition of Condominiums Association,
which is
made up of presidents and representatives of condo associations, who
represent
many hundreds of condo owners and renters.
The committee also represents home
owners and visitors to our City.
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OCEAN
AVENUE COMMITTEE UPDATE
07/01/2013
Hello to all
our supporters, volunteers, and visitors to our website,
The Ocean Avenue
Committee has been working hard these past few months with Long Branch
city
officials since Hurricane Sandy’s devastating destruction of our
beaches,
seawalls, bluffs, boardwalk, and Ocean Avenue roadway. As of this writing, most, if
not all, beach
access points have been opened, including one at Brighton Avenue, with
large beautifully
constructed platforms that we advocated for and helped to get. The City
has
done a great job in a short time.
We meet with
City officials every month with ideas and recommendations for the
beachfront
and Ocean Boulevard. These
ideas come
from us, our supporters, O.A.C. volunteers, visitors to our www.saveoceanave.com website, and
from people we meet every day along Ocean Ave.
One of our
most important accomplishments, after 5 years of lobbying with City
officials,
was the creation of a traffic free roadway along the beachfront for
pedestrians
from South Bath Avenue to Pier Village.
The southern Green Acres
traffic free linear park is now finally
connected to the northern Green Acres traffic free linear park. People
can now
walk safely along the entire beachfront!
The new widened boardwalk
may take a year or two to complete.
In the meantime, there are
issues regarding
the safety and comfort that need to be addressed right now. Our
recommendations are as follows:
- 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.
This past
year we have sold shirts and sweatshirts to raise money for these
projects and recommendations. Donations
can be made to the Ocean Avenue
Committee on our website www.saveoceanave.com or
can be made directly to any of our committee members listed below. Please visit the website
and share your
concerns. The site is interactive. Volunteers who give us their e-mail
addresses will be sent updates, and, when the time comes, will have the
ability
to work with us to help restore
the boardwalk and
beachfront.
Dennis Sherman
Mary Jean Lepis
Bill McLaughlin
Bob Kenyon
Wally Bruchman
LONG BRANCH BOARDWALK WRECKED
BY SANDY
The Long
Branch boardwalk was severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy from Pier
Village south to Brighton Avenue and the
remaining boards were pulled out by the city citing safety
reasons. The city is currently planning to rebuild a wider,
safer, and sturdier boardwalk but has no plans to guarantee it's
construction even for the 2014 summer season.
The Ocean Avenue committee believes strongly that the city should do
everything in its power to complete the new boardwalk in time for
summer of 2014. Other towns are already rebuilding theirs and
will have them up and running this summer.
While we wait there are some things that should be done immediately to
make the Ocean Walk area safe for walkers, joggers, wheel chairs, bikes
- you name it because they will all be back when the weather
is warmer.
IMMEDIATE
RECOMMENDATIONS
- MAKE
THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC NEXT TO THE BOARDWALK ONE WAY SO THE ROAD ALONG
THE BOARDWALK BECOMES SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS
- REPAIR
THE HANDICAP RAMP AT COTTAGE AVENUE SO THERE IS BEACH ACCESS FOR THE
PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGED FIRST
- CLEAR
THE SAND AND ROADWAY FROM PIER VILLAGE TO BRIGHTON AVENUE FOR WALKER
SAFETY
- REPLACE THE CURRENT TEMPORARY FENCING
WITH A SHORTER MORE STABLE FENCE ALONG THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE
BOARDWALK TO IMPROVE
WALKING SAFETY
- F IX
THE STREET SIGNS AND DOGIE PICK UP CONTAINERS ALONG THE BOARDWALK SO
DOG WASTE
CAN BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY
- PUT
BACK SOME OF THE TRASH
AND RECYCLING
CONTAINERS ALONG THE SIDEWALK ON OCEAN AVENUE FOR WASTE AND GARBAGE
- PUT
BACK AS MANY BOARDWALK BENCHES ON THE WEST SIDE OF
OCEAN AVE
NEW
BOARDWALK RECOMMENDATIONS
- WIDEN BOARDWALK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
- INSTALL NEW RAILS AND NEW ASPHALT FROM
FUNDS PROVIDED BY GREEN ACRES GRANT
- INSTALL
GAZEBOS MODELED AFTER PIER VILLAGE ARCHITECTURE - FOR SHADE AREAS FOR
THE HOT SUMMER SUN
- PUT UP
MORE BENCHES AND LANDSCAPED
AREAS ON THE WEST SIDE OF
THE BOARDWALK
- PAINT CROSSWALKS ON ALL STREETS ALONG
BOARDWALK LEADING TO
THE BEACH
- INSTALL PEDESTRIAN CROSS WALK SIGNS AT
EVERY STREET AND
REINSTALL ALL TRAFFIC BARRIERS AND
SIGNAGE TO PREVENT CARS FROM ENTERING THE NORTH AND SOUTH LINEAR GREEN ACRES PARKS
- PUT UP
MORE PEDESTRIAN SANDWICH BOARD STATE
LAW SIGNS IN ROAD AT
EVERY
STREET
ALONG
BOARDWALK
- INSTALL FIVE NEW
HISTORICAL 4 X 8 FT HISTORY
PAINTINGS ON BOARDWALK LIKE THE SEVEN
THAT SURVIVED THE HURRICANE AND ARE REMOVABLE
- REPAINT
THE BICYCLE PATH AND CLEARLY CONNECT IT TO THE
ENTIRE BOARDWALK
- INSTALL HISTORICAL INFORMATION BOARDS ALONG BOARDWALK WITH LONG
BRANCHES FAMOUS SPOTS,
HOTELS AND HISTORY
- MAKE
OFFICIAL ENTRANCE WAYS TO THE BOARDWALK AT BRIGHTON AND
SEAVIEW AVENUE WITH OVERHEAD SIGNS ANNOUNCING SEVEN PRESIDENTS OCEAN
WALK
- PUBLISIZE
AND PUT UP SIGNAGE FOR THE
ONLY TWO NO TRAFFIC,
GREEN ACRE,
LINEAR PARKS ALONG THE
BOARDWALK AT
THE NEW JERSEY SHORE
- INSTALL
ALONG THE BOARDWALK BANNER POLES SIMILAR TO THE ONES ON THE
PROMENADE
TO ADVERTISE THE ATTRACTIONS OF LONG BRANCH
- AT EVERY
ACCESS POINT PUT UP THE NEW LINEAR LONG BRANCH MAP
TO SHOW PEOPLE THEIR LOCATION AT THE BEACH
- REINSTALL CROSS STREET
SIGNS AT OCEAN AVENUE/BOARDWALK
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August, 2011
Hello Save Ocean Avenue Supporters,
We hope
you're all well. Believe it or not, it's been 4 years since
our committee formed as a result of the City's plan to put traffic on
our 2 Green Acres Linear Parks on Ocean Ave. Thanks to all of
you, those areas remain traffic-free. We
continue to monitor Ocean Avenue and have been committed to improving
its safety and beauty. As you may know, our committee is
responsible for naming the boardwalk Seven Presidents Ocean
Walk.
We've been busy meeting monthly with City Administrator Howard Woolley.
We've also met with Mayor Schneider, the Public Safety Director,
members of the Police Department, the head of Public Works and the head
of Community and Economic Development. We continue to present
our recommendations which include providing shade areas along the
boardwalk, more Green Acres signage, Seven Presidents Ocean Walk
signage, repairs to the pavers at the north end of the Ocean Walk,
additional traffic safety, flower pots, historic storyboards, and
additional historic postcard scenes. Ultimately, we'd like to
see the boardwalk widened.
It's been a slow process, but progress has been made these past four
years. Some of the changes we have activated include
replacement of boards, new bathrooms at Cottage Place, bike racks, bike
paths, benches on the west side of Ocean Avenue, additional Mutt Mitts,
street signs, picnic benches, old postcard scenes painted at Cottage
and more traffic safety signage. The city is awaiting Green Acres grant
money for the replacement of the boardwalk railings and for some
repaving on Ocean Avenue. (This grant was applied for at our
request.)
We are also working to improve the safety of Ocean Boulevard (a county
road), especially for pedestrians trying to cross it. In
early August, the committee went to Freehold to meet with the county
traffic engineers to discuss recommendations to improve the safety of
Ocean Boulevard. At our request, they changed the wording on
the digital flashing signs from Heavy Pedestrian Traffic to State Law -
Stop for Pedestrians Crossing. They're also looking at the
possibility of a traffic light at Cottage Place or Matilda
Terrace. We're hoping they'll reduce the speed limit for the
summer months as well.
The Save Ocean Ave Committee will continue its commitment to the safety
and beauty of the oceanfront. For more information or to make
suggestions or comments, please visit us at http://www.saveoceanave.com
Dennis Sherman
Wally Bruchman
Bob Kenyon
Mary Jean Lepis
Bill McLaughlin
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It's
Official: Seven Presidents Ocean Walk
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Much
to the delight of residents, the Long Branch City Council approved a
resolution to rename the boardwalk pathway along the oceanfront as
Seven Presidents Ocean Walk at Long Branch.
The
council was praised by residents at the Aug. 11 meeting as they voted
to approve the resolution 4-0. Councilman Brian Unger was absent for
the vote.
The
idea for the renaming was presented at the July 28 meeting by Dennis
Sherman, representing the Save Ocean Avenue Committee, who suggested
the council make the name change by passing a resolution.
The
original resolution would have resulted in changing the name of the
boardwalk to Seven Presidents Ocean Walk.
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CITY MAKES MANY IMPROVEMENTS TO BOARDWALK
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The City has made many improvements to the
Boardwalk and Ocean Avenue area over the past year. The Save
Ocean Avenue Committee is very happy that the improvements have been
made and we are continuing to work with the City to fix additional
areas for improvement and new ideas are developed. You can
click on the pictures below to see a larger picture with more info:
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SAVE OCEAN AVE COMMITTEE PRESENTS NEW
SEVEN PRESIDENTS OCEAN WALK CONCEPT TO TOWN COUNCIL
| Dennis Sherman, committee
chairman, presented the new Seven Presidents Ocean Walk concept to the
town council last week in a town council workshop meeting.
The Ocean Walk concept is actually Ocean Ave from Brighton in West End
to Seven Presidents Park reborn as the traffic free, pedestrian and
bike-friendly version that our citizens have come to enjoy.
The
goal is to naturalize and beautify the Walk - making it a Greenway so
that its beauty lasts for many, many years. Features will
include historical markers to memorialize the great presidents and high
rollers of industry and finance who visited the walk a century or more
ago. The entire roadway would be paved and bike and
pedestrian lanes painted. An extension of the Walk through
Seven Presidents Park is being worked on. The Walk would have native
plantings and a series of Outdoor art exhibits both permanent and
temporary.
The
Walk would tie together the West End, Pier Village, Broadway, and Seven
Presidents Park.
The committee also released a list of priority improvements and repairs
that they have been working on with the city which includes board and
railing repairs, roadway repairs, dogie bag dispensers, more benches,
flower pots along the boardwalk, and many more items. Many of
these are currently being worked on by the city.
The
concept was well received by the council and several members offered to
help us to achieve our goals and to obtain financial grants where
available. Mayor Schneider commented the "[The Ocean Avenue
group] has some very good ideas. some of it is in the works
now. Some of it is hard. Some of it is
easier."
Dennis Sherman closed the presentation by thanking the city for the
cooperation they have shown and for the progress that has been made in
making repairs and improvements to the Walk. He also added
that there is much more to be done.
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City Promises Many Improvements
to Ocean Avenue
This Save Ocean Ave Press Release Appeared:
2 River Times - 4/10/2008
Atlanticville - 4/11/2008
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The
Save Ocean Ave Committee has been meeting periodically with Long Branch
officials since August
to advocate for improvements to areas of
Ocean
Avenue, especially the Green Acres sections.
The group recognizes that a
complete renovation of the boardwalk is not in the budget, so they
presented eight recommendations for improvement to Howard Woolley, City
Administrator, and to Pratap Talwar, City Planner at a February 19th
meeting. The
committee’s hope is that these 8 requests will be realized by Memorial
Day weekend of this year. The recommendations include repairing boards
and railings along the boardwalk, fixing roadway, curbs and concrete
and providing better bathroom facilities at
Cottage
Place. The
group proposes changing the
traffic pattern on Ocean Avenue from South Bath Avenue to Pier Village
to one-way northbound, thus providing space for a designated pathway
for pedestrians and bicyclists on the east side of Ocean Avenue.
Other suggestions include signage for the pathway as well as signage
for the Green Acres recreation areas.
The committee expressed
concerns about pedestrians trying to cross
Ocean
Boulevard .
They’d like to see safety
measures taken, like a reduced speed limit and pedestrian right of way
signs. The last
recommendation is for the city to provide more dogie bag dispensers
along
Ocean Avenue and to consider a
beach area that can be used by dogs and their owners.
Woolley and Talwar addressed the list of recommendations at the latest
meeting with committee on March 6th . Woolley assured the group
that a supply of boards has been delivered and that workers will soon
begin replacing a stretch of boardwalk by
Morris
Avenue and a stretch by
the West End
concession stand. The
railings are in the process of being repaired.
The Department of Public
Works will patch the roadway and repair the curbs and concrete where
possible. The
comfort station at Cottage Place
will be razed and two portable handicap-access bathroom units with
sinks will be hooked up at the site.
(The group was pleased to
see that the comfort station was razed on March 10th)
Outdoor shower unit options are being investigated at this time for all
beaches. As an
added bonus, bike racks may be installed at all beach entrances as well.
Mayor Adam Schneider and city officials are in favor of the
recommendation for changing the traffic pattern on Ocean Avenue
to a one-way
northbound from South Bath Avenue
to
Pier
Village .
The city’s traffic
department is currently looking at the feasibility of the plan. A request to the NJ
Department of Transportation must be made for approval of the plan. Talwar addressed the
signage requests. He
said that the Department of Public Works should be able to handle the
road markings for the pedestrian and bicycle pathway.
He would like to design Long
Branch
Beach signs to post at each
beach entrance. Woolley
promised to call Green Acres to request signage for the designated
recreation areas. Woolley
and Talwar, as well as the city’s traffic department and city engineer
will meet with the county traffic department to petition safety
measures for pedestrians crossing the county roadway.
A meeting date has not been
scheduled yet. Lastly,
city officials promised to provide more dogie bag dispensers along the
ocean front. They
are also looking at ordinances from other towns that permit limited
beach access to dogs and their owners.
A compromise may be reached
allowing off-season use of the beach.
This topic will be addressed
again at a later date.
The Save Ocean Ave Committee is pleased with the responses it received
regarding the eight recommendations.
The group is anxious to see
the plans materialize. The
committee looks forward to continuing its relationship with Long Branch
officials.
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Download
the Press Release
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