Kayakers paddle around the back bays of Sea Isle. (YouTube image)
By Donald Wittkowski
For some nature lovers, there may be no better way to enjoy Sea Isle City’s wildlife and seashore scenery than to languidly kayak or paddleboard along the back bays.
A communitywide survey conducted in 2015 prompted responses from local residents urging the city to create more access to the bayfront for kayakers as a way to enhance recreation.
Now, Sea Isle plans to do just that by developing its first public launch and storage facility on the bayfront for kayaks and paddleboards.
The proposed site is on the bay side at the city’s Dealy Field athletic and recreation complex near 60th Street. But kayakers and paddleboarders will have to be patient.
Before Sea Isle starts the project, it hopes to obtain county and state grants that would be combined with its own funding to help finance construction, city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
The cost and opening date for the launch site are not yet known, Custer noted. In a first step, City Council is expected to authorize grant applications for the project when the governing body meets on Tuesday.
“It’s still in the early stages, but this is something the city really thinks is wanted,” Custer said. “Everyone seems to think this is a good thing to do.”
Custer added that the city’s Recreation Committee, whose members include local residents and business owners, has thrown its support behind the project. As director of Sea Isle’s Community Services, Custer oversees the municipal recreation program and serves as secretary to the Recreation Committee.
https://www.facebook.com/186622454698572/videos/1968929569801176/
Paddleboarding video from Sea Isle City Facebook page
For Sea Isle's kayakers and paddleboarders who want to enjoy the ocean, all they have to do is launch off the beach. This summer, Sea Isle plans to have a contractor operate kayak rentals at two beachfront areas, at 56th Street and at 79th Street, according to City Clerk Shannon Romano.
However, gaining access to the bays is a little more difficult for kayakers, Custer explained.
“We live on the water, but there’s not a lot of places to put kayaks in the bay,” she said.
Some kayakers use a public boat launch at the Sea Isle City Marina at 42nd Place to make their way to the back bays.
Custer, though, said the currents at the marina may be too swift for some kayakers. She also said the small kayaks may not be a good mix with the boat traffic using the marina.
Sea Isle officials worked with the city’s engineer to find a safe spot for a public launch site for kayaks and paddleboards along the bayfront, settling on the area next to Dealy Field as the proposed location.
“We are continuing to make the city better,” Custer said of the project.
