By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City placed second overall in a statewide poll for “Favorite Beach.”
While perennial first-place finisher Ocean City again took the top prize, Sea Isle officials say hard work and dedication of the city employees was among the reasons why their town ranked high, despite some heavy competition throughout the coastal communities.
On Friday morning, representatives of the N.J. Sea Grant Consortium announced the winners of the annual contest in a presentation on the Ocean City Music Pier.
In addition to placing second overall in the state, Sea Isle was also named second “Favorite Beach” in Cape May County. Ocean City was first in that category, too.
“We take great pride in maintaining clean, beautiful beaches here in Sea Isle City. Our entire city administration focuses on keeping them safe and welcoming for our visitors,” Sea Isle Public Information Officer Katherine Custer said.
She continued, “While many people might think that second place is not very exciting, we know we have a lot to be proud of.”
Custer emphasized that the honor was possible because of the city team.
“We want to thank all of the hard work of our Beach Patrol, other public safety organizations and our Public Works Department for all of their efforts to maintain the beaches in Sea Isle City,” she said.
In the statewide poll, Ocean City was voted as “New Jersey’s Favorite Beach” for an eighth consecutive year.
Ocean City dignitaries, including officials from the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce and the mayor and city administration, were in attendance at the ceremony Friday.
“We are thrilled for Ocean City to be voted NJ’s Favorite Beach again this year. Ocean City is a town filled with family tradition and we all take pride in that,” Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, said after the ceremony.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian congratulated everyone who helped make the achievement possible during the ceremony.
“The recognition is a testament to the hard work of the city team, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Development Commission, the Boardwalk and Downtown Merchants associations, local businesses, all volunteer groups and the entire community in making Ocean City a superior place to live, work and play,” Gillian said.
The contest is decided by online voters who are prevented from voting more than once. Winners were announced on the eve of the big Fourth of July weekend for all shore towns.
Debuting in 2008 as New Jersey’s “Top Ten Beaches,” the consortium survey was initially designed to encourage friendly competition and camaraderie among popular Jersey Shore communities along the coast, according to a press release.
Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the contest was rebranded “Favorite Beaches” to diversify results so that all areas of the state’s oceanfront would be recognized to create a sense of unity and support, officials said.
