North Wildwood is set to receive state assistance to combat the severe erosion of its beaches. Governor Phil Murphy has allocated funds for an emergency beach replenishment project, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks and provide relief over the next few months.
The city's beaches, which have shrunk from 36 blocks to 26 due to coastal erosion, are a significant economic driver, particularly during the summer tourist season. The erosion has led to restrictions on beach umbrellas, cabanas, and tents to conserve limited space, and local businesses have reported fewer bookings as a result.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation's Office of Maritime Resources will oversee the project, which involves a dredging operation to pump sand from Hereford Inlet to the shoreline. This interim solution aims to prevent further beach erosion until a long-term beach replenishment project can be completed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Mayor Patrick Rosenello expressed gratitude to the Philadelphia Inquirer for the bipartisan effort and the governor's support. 'They completely put differences aside and said, ‘Hey, there’s an important Jersey Shore town here that needs help. We need to come up with a solution to fix it,’' Rosenello said.
The project is expected to wrap up before the height of the tourist season, the Fourth of July.