By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
“Ladies and gentlemen, may we have your attention, please.”
Well, the announcements may not start with those exact words, but Sea Isle City will be reaching out to the public in a whole new way this summer on the oceanfront Promenade.
Actually, make that an old-fashioned way.
In an era of social media and digital marketing, the city is turning to a tried-and-true public address system to communicate with walkers, joggers and bicyclists on the Promenade between 35th and 44th streets.
Sea Isle is adding the new PA system to the same area of the Promenade that has recently been spruced up with decorative new lighting.
The decorative lights are dramatically different than the stark streetlight-style fixtures that have loomed over the Promenade for decades, perhaps as far back as when the popular walkway was first built in the 1960s, city officials said.
“They are much more attractive lighting fixtures with a charming flair,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said. “These new lights are beautifying the Promenade.”
Atlantic City Electric will be removing the old light poles from 35th to 44th streets later this month, according to plans.
The new PA system is also part of the Promenade’s $843,000 decorative lighting project. Custer explained that it will be used for routine announcements, such as reminding bikers of the hours they are allowed on the Promenade during the summer, or about special events and entertainment in town.
It will also come in handy if there are any emergencies, such as an announcement about a missing child, she added.
All of the new lights between 35th and 44th streets will have speakers attached to them for the PA system, which was tested last week and worked properly, Custer said.
The work being done now is the first phase of a more extensive relighting of the Promenade that will eventually stretch the entire length of the walkway from 29th to 57th streets.
As for the new PA system, Custer stressed that the city will be careful not to overdo it with the announcements.
“We intend it to be a useful tool so that when people hear a message, they will pay attention,” she said.
