Engineer reports Diamond Beach Park progress, storm sewer emergency and $400,000 pool grant

The township's engineering consultant, speaking on behalf of DeBlasio & Associates, provided a comprehensive update on capital projects, emergency stormwork and grant-funded initiatives across Lower Township.

Engineer (DeBlasio & Associates) said Diamond Beach Park is nearing completion: "the bathroom building is about 70% complete," with playground and pickleball facilities installed and the project on track for a June 28, 2024 completion. The engineer also reported that Wildwood Avenue reconstruction (NJ Municipal Aid-funded) has new drainage installed and concrete work finished; paving is proceeding in coordination with Bay Drive work.

The engineer described completed timber beach-access pathways at five locations and said an additional timber pathway will be installed at Brookdale Road because of erosion, with construction scheduled to begin July 8, 2024. Rotary Community Park's phase-one work is complete and in use; design for phase two (including a new bathroom building) is under way while the engineer awaits a flood-hazard verification permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

On stormwater, the consultant reported the Francis Avenue storm sewer evaluation was deemed an emergency, awarded to Fred Mone Construction, and has started with an estimated duration of about two months to connect local storm infrastructure to the Ohio Avenue pump station and reduce flooding. The previously noted Ohio Avenue pump-station replacement (corrugated metal pipe replacement) is complete; final paving will be coordinated with the Francis Avenue work.

On regional partnerships and larger projects, the engineer said plans to extend 15 bayside outfalls were submitted to NJDEP and that the township is pursuing a feasibility meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning a proposed boardwalk connection between David Douglas Senior Memorial Park and the DRBA ferry site. The DRBA and the Cape May County open-space board reportedly reacted positively at a recent meeting, and the township will continue feasibility and permitting work.

The consultant also said the township applied for NJ Municipal Aid funds for Ridgewood Avenue (a $200,000 grant was reported) and is preparing additional Local Transportation Fund applications to offset project costs. The stormwater GIS mapping project is digitizing infrastructure for the township master drainage plan, and several roadway and drainage design projects (Corson Lane; Homes/Gorm/Scott avenues) are in survey or design phases.

The engineer reported the township received notice of a $400,000 allocation from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJ DCA) Small Cities program to support replacement of the municipal pool building; the office is evaluating ADA compliance and next steps to apply those funds. The Village Road bulkhead emergency maintenance permission from NJDEP was confirmed and the township has submitted permit plans for a contingency bulkhead and public stairway.

Council members praised the Rotary Park work and expressed appreciation for the village-road permit arrangement, which the engineer said will be valid for five years with an optional five-year extension to allow quick reaction to erosion at no additional permit cost to the township.

What's next: several projects are scheduled to be completed by late June; the Brookdale timber pathway and public hearing on the ordinances are upcoming dates to watch. The Francis Avenue emergency repair will proceed over the coming weeks, and the engineering office will follow through on pending NJDEP and Army Corps permitting and grant applications.