Completion Date For Berkeley Island County Park : Next Spring

BAYVILLE, NJ - It's been a long five years since Ocean County residents were able to swim, fish and picnie at Berkeley Island County Park.

The park off Brennan Concourse was blasted into near oblivion by Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012 and requires massive renovations before it can be reopened.

But Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. says the end is in sight.

“We are well on our way with the rebuilding of this park,” Bartlett said. “We look forward to the anticipated completion next spring. We know many residents and visitors are looking forward to the day they can again access this beautiful county park facility on Barnegat Bay.”

The new living shoreline is now being installed on the south side of the park and more shoreline protection has been built into the north side, he said.

“The living shoreline is a new environmental feature that will help to ensure that erosion will no longer be a big problem at the park,” he said. “With its location on Barnegat Bay, we are pleased to be a pilot program for shoreline protection.”

Ocean County will build the shoreline back to the 1977 shoreline location with stones and indigenous plants. The new shoreline will help knock down waves that can cause erosion and still allow for a tidal exchange, Bartlett said..

The county had help from the the state Department of Environmental Protection, Steven’s Institute of Technology, and the Army Corps of Engineers to develop the living shoreline, which is almost finished.

“We are getting all the in-water work completed now including new bulkheading,” Bartlett said.

Berkeley Island County Park also will be home to the first county-run splash park. Bartlett traveled to Philadelphia to see firsthand how the splash pad operates and whether it would be a good fit for an Ocean County park.

“I was very impressed with what I saw,” he said. “It received great use. The children that were running through it really enjoyed it and it was a very nice feature.”

Most of the infrastructure at the aging park was catastrophically damaged from the storm.

All new infrastructures, a new parking area with ADA accommodations and improved lighting for easy access will improve the function, aesthetics and recreational opportunities available at the 25-acre park.

The south shore suffered a great loss of shoreline, eroded severely into the parking lot and part of the entrance road was lost. Prior to the storm, the south shoreline consisted of a wetland edge of marsh grasses and shrubs, beach areas and upland trees.

In addition to the damage from Superstorm Sandy, the park experienced significant long term erosion to the shoreline and damage to both the bulkhead and armor mat due to its location on the Barnegat Bay resulting in the difficult decision to temporarily close the park to the public.

“We all experienced great losses in Ocean County as a result of Superstorm Sandy,” Bartlett said. “In our ongoing effort to put back the pieces I am pleased to announce that real progress is being made in the rebuilding of this park.

Engineers from T&M Associates and Barlo & Associates designed the park redevelopment and buildings, strengthening them to withstand future storms.

Construction of larger restroom facilities to accommodate patrons as well as a new pavilion for picnickers is underway. Two new shade structures with benches will be constructed to give visitors an opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views Berkeley Island County Park has to offer.

“It takes a great deal of time to rebuild a park like this and to do it right,” Bartlett said. “We first had to navigate the permitting process and get everything in place in order to start the work. Of course we are also up against the weather. We are confident the park will be open to the public in the late spring of next year.”

Ocean County expects about $1.2 million reimbursement for the work from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and about $200,000 from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Additional funding may be provided by FEMA from mitigation funds.

Photo: Patricia A. Miller