By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has approved a state permit for Sea Isle City’s proposed kayak launch site and fishing pier project.
In announcing the permit, Mayor Leonard Desiderio called it a “big step forward” for an attraction that will give kayakers, paddleboarders and anglers more public access to the picturesque back bays.
Sea Isle still needs federal approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Desiderio said the city is hopeful that will happen this spring.
City Council is expected at its March 24 meeting to award the construction contract for the project, conditional on the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers permit, Desiderio said.
In February, EZ Docks South of Ocean View submitted the apparent low bid of $975,550 among eight companies vying for the construction contract. The other seven bids ranged from $1,039,000 to $2,087,892.
Sea Isle has received a $935,605 grant from Cape May County’s Open Space Board to help pay for the project. If EZ Docks South is formally awarded the contract, the city would have to kick in only a small amount to complete the funding.
Jutting 132 feet out into the water, the Boardwalk-style structure will be built near 60th Street at the Dealy Field athletic and recreation complex. There is an adjacent parking lot.
“We expect the future fishing pier and kayak launch facility to be a very active location that will get a lot of use,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said Friday.
Amenities will include a fishing pier and a handicap-accessible launch facility for kayaks and paddleboards. Kayak storage racks will also be offered as an extra convenience for those who are eager to paddle on the bay.
The project will also include decorative lighting and a “passive pier” featuring a covered pavilion. City officials envision the passive pier as a quiet location for nature lovers to enjoy the wildlife, bayfront views and sunsets.
“People have been eager to see it completed because it will offer increased access to the bay for kayakers, anglers, birders and people who simply want to enjoy a beautiful view,” Custer said. “The pier will be a fine addition to our community and will enhance Dealy Field by giving several more recreation options.”
The city would like to have the project completed in time for the peak summer tourism season, but is still trying to pin down the construction timetable.
“We expect construction to take place during spring into the summer but are not yet sure about a completion date,” Custer said.
For months, the city has been teasing the project with a large sign at the site that includes an architectural rendering accompanied by the words, “Coming soon … Opening in 2020.”
Crowded with upscale homes, Sea Isle’s bayfront offers few places where kayakers, paddleboarders and anglers have public access to the water. The new fishing pier and kayak launch facility will give the public a prime location to enjoy the back bays.
A communitywide survey conducted in 2015 included responses from local residents urging the city to create more access to the bayfront as a way to enhance recreation, including kayaking.
