ACUA/The ACUA assisted with cleanup at Ventnor West, the future site of an eco-park.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR The Atlantic County Utilities Authority April 5 helped to clear large debris from Glass Beach in the Ventnor West tract off Wellington and Swarthmore Avenues.
Ventnor West is one of the last remaining tracts of maritime uplands and coastal forests on Absecon Island. It was once slated for residential development and later used as a landfill. The site had been filled with large pieces of concrete, glass, litter, and other construction debris that had been dumped there over the years.
Ventnor City requested assistance in planning a litter cleanup of the site as part of its National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resilience Fund grant application to revitalize the area. After reviewing the site, however, it became clear it was in need of a complete excavation. ACUA offered to assist in fully cleaning the area and removed more than 50 tons of bulky debris. The site is now clear and ready for further improvements.
Concrete debris is removed from the Ventnor West tract.
Ventnor is planning to restore the coastal habitat and improve the resiliency of the area by installing a living shoreline, enhancing the wetlands, incorporating trails, and providing water access for non-motorized watercraft like kayaks and canoes.
In addition to the ACUA, the city is collaborating with several technical organizations including Stockton University Coastal Research Center, Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forsythe Wildlife Refuge and the Ventnor Board of Education and Ventnor Green Team.
Commissioner Tim Kriebel said he would like to see the city's Master Plan for the area fulfilled by turning it into an eco-park that could include a kayak launch, wildlife education area, birdwatching perch, small boardwalk, an observation area to view the Monarch butterfly migration, and an area for crabbing and fishing.
The city also received delivery of Monarch butterfly kits to raise butterflies for release in the area.
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