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Beach Haven residents urge restoration of Chadzsworth street‑end access as council seeks CDBG projects
Summary
At a Jan. 12 special meeting, Beach Haven council solicited ideas for a Community Development Block Grant and heard residents press to restore a removed street‑end viewing platform on Chadzsworth Avenue; council said engineers will review ADA constraints before deciding which projects to include in a roughly $40,000 grant application.
Beach Haven council opened a special meeting on Jan. 12 to gather community project ideas for the borough’s biennial Community Development Block Grant application and heard residents ask the town to prioritize restoring access at the Chadzsworth Avenue street end.
Miss Sanderson and other council members described two enclosed platform seating areas that had been removed and discussed replacing them with movable benches, planters and a bike rack to preserve neighborhood seating without violating current codes. Council members repeatedly cautioned that Americans with Disabilities Act standards have changed since the original structure was built and that a rebuilt feature likely would require a longer ramp and different dimensions.
“It's not that we're looking for a seat at the end of the road,” said Susan Murphy, who identified herself as a longtime Chadzsworth resident. “That ramp gave older people and kids a way to get up to the height where they could fish and see the bay. Benches alone do not give that access.”
Dennis Steedman, also of Chadzsworth Avenue, told the council the prior elevation—“maybe 12 to 15 inches”—made a meaningful difference for wheelchair users, children and seniors. “That small elevation made a real difference in just creating a space and providing greater access and visibility,” he said.
Council members acknowledged the neighborhood’s concerns but said staff must first determine what is feasible under current ADA rules and what level of engineering and cost would be required. “We should talk to our public works supervisor and borough engineer and see exactly what the restrictions are,” Miss Anderson said, noting that resident contributions of plantings could be considered but that the borough would not maintain vegetation placed on the street end.
Council members flagged other possible uses of the CDBG funds during the discussion: the public works supervisor recommended repairing sidewalks and curb transitions at Veterans Park to improve access from handicapped parking spaces, and staff reported maintenance problems with beach access mats (Mobi Mats) that sit on erodible hardpack. The council said those items would be evaluated alongside the street‑end proposal.
The borough’s anticipated allocation for the Community Development Block Grant is about $40,000. Council members noted funds can be split among projects but cautioned that many infrastructure projects exceed that amount. The council will decide which application to submit at a follow‑up meeting on Jan. 29.
Residents were encouraged to continue providing feedback and the council said it would return with engineering recommendations and cost estimates before making a final decision.
