ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP APPROVED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BEACHSIDE SITE 

ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP (9/25/07)—The Monmouth County Community Development Committee has approved Aberdeen Township’s request for federal funding for a proposed beachfront project. Following the Committee’s action, the grant will be recommended for final approval by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, helping to pave the way for a series of major improvements to the 5/8-mile-long seawall and other publicly owned bayside lands in the area extending from Lakeshore Drive to Beach Drive in the Cliffwood Beach section.     

The municipality has been approved for a grant of up to $170,771 under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Community Development Block Grant program, with the total ultimately received for the project dependent on the amount of federal funds released for the 2008 funding year and a final disbursement decision from the Monmouth County Freeholders. Under the process, the Community Development Block Grant Committee will make its funding recommendation to the Freeholders in November.

In addition to the Federal grant, Aberdeen has applied for Monmouth County Open Space and Recreation Funds for the project.  At a recent hearing held for the public to review and comment on the plan, support was received from the Aberdeen Township Environmental & Shade Tree Advisory Board and a number of residents. 

 The Sea Walk Enhancement project is designed to improve access and revitalize the site for passive recreational purposes. Under current conditions, the bayside property cannot be easily enjoyed by the general public and those with disabilities. As proposed, the project will encompass a variety of improvements, including the development of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant access to the seawall itself and entry points at Lakeshore Drive and  Beach Drive, the creation of new parking areas,  and the addition of an ADA-compliant ‘soft’ boardwalk utilizing engineered plastic-wood planks made from recycled materials.

“We are pleased to have been approved for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs for this initiative,” commented Mayor David Sobel.  “The financial support of the federal government will help Aberdeen continue its commitment to restore these bayside lands for use by all members of the community.”

“Aberdeen’s waterfront area has great potential as a recreation site,” added Councilman Owen Drapkin.  “This project will provide a revitalized recreational area for all to enjoy. As the funding process proceeds, we urge the public to write to the County Freeholders in support of the grants.”

With its boardwalk and amusements, Cliffwood Beach was a popular resort during the first half of the 20th Century. But the area’s resort character was lost after Hurricane Donna destroyed the boardwalk and surrounding properties in 1960, and significantly eroded the beach itself. At the time, no funding was available to rebuild what was lost to the elements. However, in an effort to protect properties in the area, the 20-foot-high seawall was constructed under the direction of the Army Corps of Engineers in the 5/8-mile section spanning from Lakeshore Drive to Beach Drive.

The Sea Walk Enhancement project is part of a long term commitment to restore the waterfront area.  In recent years, the township has conducted a number of activities to create awareness of the waterfront as recreational resource and to remind everyone of the importance of keeping the area clean and safe. These have included such events as this past May’s Beach Fest, which incorporated the Environmental & Shade Tree Advisory Board’s annual family fishing contest, as well as beach clean-ups conducted by The Environmental & Shade Tree Advisory Board and Goldman Sachs.