City Gets a 'Free' Bayside Park With Sale of Land to County

The City Council voted Tuesday to sell a bayfront parcel of land to the county to be preserved as open space.

The city had purchased the marina site in 2009 for $3 million with the help of $738,000 in state Green Acres preservation grants, Business Adminstrator Mike Dattilo said. The sale of the property to Cape May County for $2,261,225 in essence pays the balance of the purchase price for the property.

The waterfront property includes a parking lot, a small grassy area and existing docks and boat slips. The county made the purchase as part of its open space program, and the city will lease the land from the county for $1 per year and operate a marina there.

WHERE: 2nd Street and Bay Avenue, overlooking the bay and Somers Point.

WHY: The sale preserves one of the few undeveloped and publicly accessible properties on the bay side of Ocean City.

WHAT: The city plans small improvements to allow the public to enjoy the spot. The city will continue to operate a marina there. Not all marina slips were rented last year.

WHEN: Major improvements to the existing marina are not planned this year.