By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Think of it as summer – in reverse.
Although the quieter fall months have arrived, Sea Isle City remains busy getting ready for winter’s harsh weather at the shore.
From the beaches to the Promenade to the playgrounds, the city’s Public Works crews are fanning out through town to prepare for the inevitable: coastal storms, howling winds and bitterly cold temperatures as Mother Nature unleashes her wrath over the winter.
“Public Works does a good job of maintaining the facilities,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
The mild, spring-like weather expected to continue through next week should give work crews more time to winterize the town.
Their work includes removing signs and trash cans along the oceanfront Promenade that could be blown away during winter storms, Custer said.
Bathrooms and shower facilities along the Promenade and behind the Band Shell in Excursion Park are being winterized so that pipes won’t freeze.
Two heated bathrooms on the Promenade at 40th and 44th streets will remain open for the winter, Custer said.
A beach replenishment project completed over the summer has widened the shoreline, giving Sea Isle more protection from winter storms. Beaches between 28th and 52nd streets and 74th and 93rd streets received a total of 760,000 cubic yards of new sand to repair storm-related damage.
“They will monitor the beach to keep an eye on things,” Custer said of the Public Works crews over the winter.
Nothing dramatic is planned by the city for the beaches or dunes during winter. However, those popular blue mats that allow summer beachgoers easy trips across the thick sand are being removed now and placed in winter storage.
The planting of dune grass typically is done in the fall during a communitywide beach cleanup. This year, though, the fall cleanup was canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. Community beach cleanups are also normally done during the spring.
Earlier this year, Sea Isle approved a $30,500 contract to buy a large supply of sand fencing that will replace any that is damaged. Sand fences are used to control erosion and help protect the dunes. They are also commonly used after storms to stabilize the dunes and help them recover from damage.
Custer explained that the city probably will wait until spring to replace damaged dune fencing, which is part of getting the beaches ready for the summer tourism season.
Sea Isle’s preparations for winter also include flushing out the fountains at the city’s playgrounds and Dealy Field recreation complex to prevent pipes from freezing. Dealy Field and the municipal playgrounds will remain open during the winter.
“They’ll monitor them throughout the winter season to make sure there’s no damage,” Custer said of the Public Works crews overseeing the playgrounds and recreation facilities.
