The Ventnor Pier is closed to fishers while new bathrooms and a pier master’s office being constructed.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – Members of the Ventnor City Beach Patrol who live in Ventnor have been called on to lighten the load for the Police and Fire departments.
Fire Chief Michael Cahill canvassed lifeguards to see if they were willing to put in some hours to assist while police and firefighters are responding to emergency calls and enforcing restrictions put in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“They already have a lot to do,” Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Kriebel said. “Several of them stepped up to take the weight off police and fire.”
Lifeguards are using a pick-up truck to deliver school lunches to students at home – a job previously being done by the Police Department, Kriebel said. Others are assisting with administrative work at City Hall.
Beach patrol chiefs in all three Downbeach communities are communicating on a regular basis to develop protocols for the opening of the beaches this summer, “so we can do things similarly,” Kriebel said.
“We’re monitoring things together so we don’t do anything that negatively impacts neighboring towns,” he said.
Although Atlantic City beaches have remained open during the pandemic, Ventnor closed its beach and boardwalk, while Margate and Longport are allowing people to walk, jog or run on their beaches. However, sitting, playing sports or gathering in groups has been banned.
Ventnor plans to open its beach on Friday, May 8 for walking, jogging and running only. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the off-season but they must be tethered to a leash.
“In Atlantic City, all the casinos are closed, and hotels guests are the ones who would walk on the beach, while Downbeach towns are mostly residential,” he said.
Kriebel said the city is currently taking an inventory of city-sponsored sports and activities that may be able to be held this summer, and speaking with leaders of community groups to see how specific activities can be brought back with appropriate social distancing, he said.
Ideas being kicked around are one-on-one pickleball and tennis, establishing kayaking and catamaran beaches and surfing.
“They will be sending us the protocols they can recommend to make things safer for the public,” Kriebel said.
Kriebel, who rows at the Viking Rowing Club, is discussing with club personnel how to properly social distance for that sport, such as only allowing singles and/or eliminating eights, he said.
“I know rowing, but not the other sports, so we want to hear from those groups before deciding to phase in openings,” he said. “We want the experts to chime in.”
Recreation Director Jerry Thomas is reviewing recreation programs to determine if some of them can be implemented safely this summer.
Fishing would be available at this time were it not for ongoing construction that has closed the pier to fishers. The city is installing new restroom facilities, and space to house an office for the pier master, who is tasked with selling memberships and distributing keys. The building has been configured to provide the pier master with a bird’s eye view of pier activities, Kriebel said.
Although bids came in too high to include construction of a snack bar, Kriebel the city is considering allowing a snack cart concession on the pier, “but we have to be very careful with environmental concerns and of course, we don’t want any lines of people forming,” he said.
Although the city is hopeful it will be able to salvage an enjoyable summer, it really depends on the public to abide by social distancing, hand sanitizing and mask wearing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Kriebel is hopeful activities will continue to be phased in as the curve flattens because the number of coronavirus cases has not exceeded 25 cases.
However, lifting restrictions on short-term rentals is “awhile away,” he said.
Meanwhile, Margate Recreation announced it is waiting for guidance from the governor on how to move forward with providing recreational opportunities this summer.
Longport, which had considered hiring a recreation coordinator this year, is still deciding how to safety allow its recreational facilities to be utilized this summer.
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