By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Covered in snow after Friday night’s storm, the steps leading up to the Promenade at 51st and 53rd streets make for a steep and slippery climb.
Even when the narrow steps are not coated with snow, climbing them is likely a challenging, if not impossible, task for senior citizens or people with disabilities.
Recognizing the difficulties that some pedestrians may face, Sea Isle City is planning to replace both sets of steps at 51st Street and at 53rd Street with handicap-accessible ramps leading to the popular oceanfront Promenade.
City Council is expected at its meeting Tuesday to award a $298,500 contract to the construction company R.A. Walters & Son Inc. of Cape May Court House to build the new ramps.
The ramps will make the Promenade even more inviting and accessible to the pedestrians and bikers who enjoy its oceanfront location, city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said in comments Sunday.
“Making the Promenade more accessible will benefit our entire community,” Custer said.
“In addition to giving more options to our residents and visitors with special needs, the new ramps will also be advantageous for beachgoers pulling carts filled with gear, parents pushing strollers, bicyclists, and anyone else who wants to enjoy easier access to our Promenade and beachfront,” she noted.
The Promenade stretches for 1.5 miles between 29th and 57th streets and is a haven for pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists. It is often crowded with people heading to the beaches in the bustling summer vacation season.
Sea Isle already has ramps that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act at a number of locations on the Promenade. They include where the Promenade starts at 29th Street and ends at 57th Street. They can also be found at John F. Kennedy Boulevard, 44th Street, 49th Street and other locations.
The new ramps at 51st and 53rd streets are expected to be “gently sloping” to easily connect to the Promenade. They are included in the city’s new five-year capital plan, a broad blueprint for construction projects throughout town.
Also in the capital plan, the city is looking to do an extensive makeover of the Promenade that would include resurfacing the walkway, decorative lighting, new bulkheads and pavilions on the ocean side.
The capital plan includes $550,000 for new benches and other upgrades to the Promenade in 2024, $1.8 million in 2025 and $1.2 million in 2026.
Sea Isle hopes to secure funding from the state’s newly created $100 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund to help finance improvements to the Promenade. City Business Administrator George Savastano has estimated that the total cost of the Promenade’s facelift would be around $10 million.
The Boardwalk Preservation Fund is for restoration and improvements to boardwalks and promenades in beach towns along the Jersey Shore. Although the fund was created by the state in 2023, no announcements have been made yet for specific projects in the shore communities.
