New Band Shell to be Built in Long Branch's West End Park

The aging and deteriorating gazebo in Long Branch's West End Park will be removed in the the near future to make way for an open air band shell.

"The metal composition of the gazebo could not deal with the salt air and moisture and has deteriorated very badly," Long Branch Office of Community and Economic Development Director Jacob Jones said. "It's almost an unsafe structure and there are pieces falling off of it."

Jones said the cost to refurbish the gazebo would be pricier than simply building a new one.

"Refurbishing it would cost between $16,000 to $30,000 and we would have to do it again," Jones said.

The city has chosen to purchase a wooden, prefabricated, open-air band shell for the park, which fronts Brighton Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.

"It will have better acoustics and the wood should last longer than metal," Jone said. "It's like a small amphitheatre with an arched roof similar to the one behind Brookdale (Community College) on Broadway."

He said West End Park and the gazebo are popular destinations in the city and that several events are held there such as the West End Concert Series and the Block Party and Pooch Parade.

"It's a major attraction for West End," he said. "It supports the merchants and businesses and we feel it is worth building a new band shell for the park."

The city approved the purchase fo the band shell last month for $43,291 and is now going out to bid for the structure. The Long Branch Council is expected to approve a resolution accepting a bid at next week's meeting.