LONGORT – In the days before COVID-19, a group of residents approached the borough to establish a passive beachfront park on a narrow strip landward of the bulkhead on the 1500-block of Beach Terrace. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, residents interested in moving the project forward presented their concept plan to the newly seated Board of Commissioners.
Resident Phil Neri advised the board that the residents have formed a non-profit organization, Beach Terrace, Inc., to raise funds to create the park, and landscaper Jamie Lloyd of J.W. Lloyd Lawncare and Landscaping of Woodbine provided an overview of the park’s landscaping plan.
“We want it to be beautiful but low maintenance, so it still looks good five to 10 years down the road,” said Lloyd, who has been landscaping Longport residences for more than four decades. He said his company will maintain the park.
“Rest assured, I will take care of it. It will be an ongoing project for us,” he said.
Since the project was first proposed, the borough has added two handicapped parking spaces on a portion of land closest to Longport Seaview condominiums at 16th Avenue and installed curbs and sidewalks on the beach side of Beach Terrace between 16th and 15th avenues.
Lloyd said the park would be a unique space that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors.
Their goal is to have the project started in September and completed by Memorial Day 2026.
Lloyd said he would start grading and adding soil, installing walkway pavers, fencing and irrigation this year, but the plantings will be done in spring 2026.
“Fall is normally a great time to plant, but not on the beach block,” he said.
Neri said the Beach Terrace Park organization, which includes trustees who live in the neighborhood, has obtained approval from the Internal Revenue Service to start raising the funds needed to create the park. Members of the board are President Anthony Ziccardi, Vice-president Joan Band, Treasurer Lisa Marie Utasi, and Neri, who serves as secretary. Sheila Stone and Marge Wilson are assistants and Bruce Funk is the borough representative on the board.
Neri estimated the total cost to establish the park for the first year will be about $215,000, including $170,000 for construction, $25,000 for year-one maintenance and $20,000 for contingencies. He estimates the organization will need to raise $25,000 to maintain the park each year. The borough is being asked to provide electricity and water to keep the grass and plants watered, collect trash and recycling on a regular basis, and help the organization promote its fundraising efforts.
Two local homeowners associations – Longport Seaview and Costa Vederi – have already contributed $5,000 each toward the project, but more donations are needed.
“We are now reaching out to the community to raise the additional funds,” Neri said.
The group has contracted with a media outlet to create a website where residents can make secure online donations. The trustees also plan to sell Beach Terrace Park merchandise. Although the website has not been activated at this time, visitors to the site can sign up to receive email notifications. Until the website goes live, donations can be mailed to or dropped off at 111 S. 16th Ave., Longport, NJ 08403 or email info@beachterracepark.com.
“We are confident the residents and neighbors will be generous,” Neri said.
Mayor Patrick Armstrong and the commissioners said they were in favor of moving forward with the project.
The next step will be to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the borough to turn over control of the land to the trustees.
Borough attorney Michael Affanato said there are still many details to work out between the parties and that a memo of understanding could be finalized in the coming weeks.
Once the park is completed, the trustees will work with the borough to hold a dedication ceremony.
https://downbeach.com/news/2021/feb/23/idea-of-creating-a-park-on-beach-terrace-resurface/
https://downbeach.com/news/2019/dec/16/longport-reviews-beach-terrace-park-design/
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