File/A band plays during Ventnor’s Summer Beach Jam at the beachfront park at Newport Avenue.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – Wednesday and Saturday evening concerts being held in two locations in Ventnor has prompted the Board of Commissioners to consider improvements at the Newport Avenue beachfront park behind the library and the Dorset Avenue park at Ski Beach.
“It’s really too early to comment,” Commissioner of Public Safety and Public Affairs Tim Kriebel said Monday morning. “We’ll probable discuss it more after the summer.”
Kriebel said all three commissioners support the idea of upgrading the gazebo at Newport Avenue and possibly building a band shell at Ski Beach, but the cost and funding available will likely be the deciding factor. Funding had been set aside in a prior bond ordinance, but the city’s 100-year-old infrastructure takes priority, especially since the city never knows when an underground pipe will fail.
“We want to try to create something permanent in both locations, but our funding is very limited at this time,” Kriebel said.
Of the two locations, the gazebo would be the first priority, he said.
“It has been in disrepair for some time, and each summer we patch it together,” he said.
This year, the Public Works Department improved the electrical service to make it more conducive to the requirements of the entertainers.
“We need something larger, but simple. We need more lighting and speakers,” he said. “Whatever we do there should have a presence like we did with the pier because it’s a popular spot along the boardwalk.”
Concert at Ski Beach.
Kriebel said the commissioners are concerned about the neighbors, so a mini-band shell, which would reflect the sound away from homes is being considered.
“But we really can’t do anything until we figure out our budget,” he said.
The amount of money that has been earmarked for park improvements is not enough to move forward at this time, but the issue will be discussed over the coming months, he said.
“We want to continue to give people a reason to come to Ventnor,” he said, “and the concerts are very popular in both locations.”
The city offers concerts on Saturday nights at the Newport Avenue park, and a movie and concert on the last Wednesday of the month at Ski Beach. Crafters and food trucks are included in both locations.
See ventnorcity.org or Ventnor City Special Events on Facebook for the latest information and concert lineups.
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