By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Despite warnings of dire economic conditions, some shore towns are having their best beach season ever at mid-season.
Asbury Park director of public works, Gary Giberson, said the city is about $60,000 ahead of last year’s revenues at this time.
As of the July 24 report Giberson said beach revenues were showing $37,939 more than last year.
But, he said, “We had a good last weekend and now we’re estimating about $60,000 a head.”
Giberson based the new figures on verbal reports from badge collectors who said this year’s amount now totals $207,670.
“This latest surge was predominately on daily badges,” he said.
He said they are still selling seasonal badges, which at $50 and $15 for teens and seniors is still a bargain.
Giberson said they sold 400 more seasonal badges at 2,553 to last year’s 2,184.
“The season badges are typically more local people” he said.
Daily are a mix of local and outside visitors.
Giberson said a new beach sweeper purchased last year is keeping the beaches clean.
“We use the beach cleaner four times a week,” he said.
Giberson also said the city owns four wheel drive pickups that can operate on sand for picking up garbage bins.
“Weekends we are getting good crowds, with good weather,” he added.
On the boardwalk Giberson said the evenings have been busy with visitors and residents playing miniature golf and visiting the new shops.
“It sort of runs the gamut of things up there; those things now open are being well received.”
One weekend day Giberson said cars were parked all the way through the 300 blocks.
“The Wonder Bar lot was filled to capacity and the street spots were all taken,” he added.
“Business is off everywhere when the weather is off,” Giberson said.
Giberson said even with increased activity at the beachfront no personnel has been added except for a life guard to the Third Avenue Beach.
He is optimistic about the remainder of the summer.
“We have four more weekends and we are doing well during the week.”
Giberson complemented developers Madison Marquette for their efforts on the beach front.
“They have done a terrific job in getting open what they’ve done so far,” he said. “It’s not for lack of trying that they haven’t met their deadlines.”
Rev. Scott Hoffman of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association said the beach revenues are a little bit ahead of last summer’s.
“We’re having a great summer,” he said.
Hoffman said Memorial Day provided a great start to the season but poor weather Fourth of July put them back a little.
“But we’re catching up again,” Hoffman said.
In Bradley Beach Borough Administrator Phyllis Quixley said they have already reached 78 percent of the anticipated $931,000 in revenues.
Last year’s revenues were about $954,000.
Quixley said season badges were up, but dailies were down a bit.
“We are $39,000 over last year at this time,” she said.
Quixley said one of the best things about the borough’s beautiful beach front is the free entertainment six nights a week at the Fifth Avenue Pavilion.
There is some kind of musical entertainment every evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. every night but Sunday.
Parking has not been a big problem, she said, but on the weekends “There is not a parking space to be had.”
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