Pallone secures funding for new Long Branch pier

BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH — The city will regain a symbol of its days as a grand seashore resort, now that funding has been secured for a recreational pier.

Last week, a second infusion of funds was secured by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) to complete funding for the new pier.

“From when I was a child, the Long Branch pier was a focal point for recreational activities in the city,” Pallone said. “It was the pride of Long Branch.”

That pier was destroyed by a fire more than three decades ago.

“I hope the new pier will accomplish the same purpose in the near future,” he said.

Pallone secured $3.34 million in federal funds on July 29 for the design and construction of a new recreational pier, in addition to the $4 million he secured in March.

The funds were included in a Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users conference report, which is a $286.4 billion multiyear transportation reauthorization bill that the U.S. House of Representatives approved last Friday.

Pallone added that he hopes the federal funds will help Long Branch attract additional money from state and other sources to move forward on the project, which he said is of historical significance to the city.

The pier will be located on the beach in the city’s Pier Village redevelopment zone, which is a 10-acre tract that extends from Laird Street to Melrose Terrace.

The pier will feature new ferry service, a fishing area, and a 30,000-square-foot area for exhibitions that will likely include a restaurant, Howard H. Woolley, the city business administrator, has said.

There also will be a beach-side stage area on the back end of the pier, an amphitheater on the beach area next to the pier, and a 3,500- to 5,000-square-foot area on the off-shore portion of the pier for oceanographic and marine science educational classes.

“The fishing pier was always the best place to fish at the Jersey Shore, and is the most important part of this project, as far as I am concerned,” Pallone said.

“The ferry terminal provides an alternative way for people to visit Long Branch and the Monmouth County shoreline without having to worry about traffic or parking.”

The additional money for the project will come from contributions from developers and other sources, Woolley has said. The city will need approximately $15 million to $20 million to start the project.