Asbury Park, Bradley Beach Report Increase in Beach Badges
By JOANNE PAPAIANNI
Beach managers in the area reported brisk sales of beach badges over the Memorial Day weekend with Asbury Park and Bradley Beach coming in approximately $5,000 over last year at the same time.
Asbury Park Public Works Supervisor Garrett Giberson said the holiday weekend casts a good light on the upcoming summer.
It was very encouraging, he said.
Giberson said the total amount of money from daily and seasonal badges was $27,350 for the Memorial Day weekend.
We had a terrific weekend, we actually surpassed last years Memorial Day which was pretty hot, Giberson said.
Giberson said an additional $1500 was brought in at an offsite office of the Department of Public Works.
Giberson said the city collected $2,540 in seasonal badges before the start of the season.
Total beach revenues for the 2008 season are currently $31,400, which is $5000 more than last year at this time.
Giberson toured the beach during the weekend and said he was happy with what he saw.
I was down there, he said. I was very impressed with the amount of people on the boardwalk, as well as the beach. There was an awful lot of interest.
Most businesses along the boardwalk, however, were not open. Boardwalk developer Madison Marquette hopes the majority of them will be open for July 4.
Giberson commended Beach Bathing Supervisor Joseph Bongiovani for the increase in badge sales.
Joe has done a great job with season badges, he said.
Asbury Parks season badges are a bargain at $50 compared to surrounding towns.
We are lower than any beach around here, he said. Were the most reasonable, best bargain.
Giberson praised Madison Marquette for its work in renovating the boardwalk.
I have to just give them all the credit in the world, they embraced a very ambitious project, he said.
Giberson also said 2000 feet of bulkhead has been installed at Wesley Lake making the area much cleaner. Keeping the beach area cleaner will be easier this summer with the acquisition of a power broom that can be attached to the front of the citys tractor.
After the recent northeaster Giberson said the beach actually cleaned up nicer than they thought it would after the broom was used to sweep the sand back onto the beach from the boardwalk.
We had a setback during the noreaster, but everybody rallied and worked together, he said.
Giberson said the power broom can also be used for snow or litter in some circumstances.
They are light tractors, so they are good on the boardwalk, he said.
Giberson explained that using blades can cause damage to boards on the boardwalk.
The broom doesnt damage the wood, he said.
In Bradley Beach Borough Administrator Phyllis Quixley said the borough collected $79,000 in badge fees over the weekend, which was less than last years total.
However, Quixley said overall badge sales are up $5000 over last year at this time.
To date we have $226,000, and last year we had $206,900. And thats since November, she said.
Last year during the Memorial Day weekend the borough sold $90,000.
We are down on dailies, but up on seasonal, said Quixley.
She also said predictions for the upcoming season are impossible to make.
It depends on the weather, she said, It all depends on the weather.
In Allenhurst Borough Administrator Lori Osborne said the cool weather kept some bathers away. The borough does not sell season badges, only daily passes. She said 87 were sold over the three days, slightly less than last year for the same weekend.
Deal Administrator Jim Rogers also said the chilly beach weather kept his sun bathers away.
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