Newport Avenue gazebo
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Those who said they wouldn't be able to live without their summer concerts on the beach got their wish Thursday evening when the Board of Commissioners announced the summer concert series would indeed take place at the Newport Avenue beachfront park.
Mayor Lance Landgraf and Commissioners Tim Kriebel and Maria Mento expressed gratitude that so many individuals posted their opinions about moving the concerts to Ski Beach on Saturday nights so the city could commence building a new band shell to replace the deteriorating gazebo where the bands play.
It was heartening to see how many people love that concert series, Kriebel said.
Based on the public outcry and an updated schedule for public bidding process, the concerts are back on at Newport Avenue for most weeks during the summer. Only the Memorial Day weekend concert will be held at Ski Beach, which offers a larger venue for the busy holiday weekend.
Residents and visitors lamented moving the location of the concerts to Ski Beach and blamed the city for poor planning. However, state regulatory approvals were slow in being issued, which delayed the start of the project beyond the winter months, they said. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection Watershed and Land Management took 11 months to review the city's application and it issued a permit on Jan. 18.
Everything got delayed by the state CAFRA permit, which took a long time to get through, Landgraf said. Had we had that in September, we would have built it over the winter, and that was the plan.
Rendering of the proposed bandstand at Newport Avenue beach.
The project, which has been in the discussion, design and funding phase for two years, will now start after the summer season in hopes it can be completed by Memorial Day 2025.
Kriebel said the gazebo will be demolished before Memorial Day, and for practicality purposes, the lifeguard station relocated to the beach side of the dune and boardwalk. A temporary stage will be set up for Saturday night concerts through Labor Day weekend, except for Saturday, May 25, when the concert will be held at Ski Beach.
Layout for this summer's Beach Jam concert series at Newport Avenue beachfront park.
It's a busy time of year for the Newport Avenue location with the Farmers Market starting on May 24, signups for the Kenny Wayland Memorial Run on Saturday, and the run on Sunday, May 26, he said. We anticipate a larger turn out, and that facility can handle more vendors.
Kriebel issued an updated timeline for the public bidding process, demolition and removal of the existing structures, and construction of the band shell, which includes pilings, concrete work, prefabricated canopy, lighting, landscaping and fencing.
The city will go out to bid for the project before the end of March, have a pre-bid meeting with interested contractors on April 26, open bids May 21, and after a thorough review, award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder on May 23. The city will work to obtain all building permits required over the summer months and start construction in September. The city expects it will take several months to complete the project. It hopes to have it completed by January or February, barring any weather delays.
I think it's a good call, there was a lot of public outcry for it, and that's what we like to see, Landgraf said. We like to see people get involved and let us know (how they feel).
Mento said she is happy to see the community's interest in the project.
It's exciting, she said.
Costs for the project will be offset with the $50,000 recreation grant and $75,000 donation from the Ventnor Beautification Committee.
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