Barnegat Light Beach Pathway Restoration
If you’ve ever been to Barnegat Light and taken the longer, more scenic walkways to the beach, you understand the beauty and connection to nature the northern tip of LBI possesses. Recently, there was work done at the pathways to clear encroaching vegetation on the path itself. Now, if you walked on these paths recently, you would have found left debris, uprooted trees/bushes, scarred plant life, and just an overall feeling of lack of care. The town and its citizens did not take long to notice this oversight, immediately calling for these issues to be fixed and amended.
In response, an advisory committee has been set up by local taxpayers and concerned residents to focus on restoring and maintaining the greenery along the beach boardwalks. This initiative comes after a 58-page report was published, detailing the damage done during the fall by the rough mowing practices that destroyed much of the native vegetation along these paths.
During a cleanup effort, a mistake was made that resulted in the destruction of several cedar trees, for which Councilman Ed Wellington, representing the public works department, has publicly apologized. This mistake spurred a positive dialogue among residents and officials, leading to a consensus on how to proceed with restoration.
The Barnegat Light Taxpayers Association is actively involved in the replanting efforts, collaborating with landscape architects and the community. Their detailed report not only highlights the current conditions of the boardwalk paths but also offers recommendations for the types of grasses, trees, and shrubs suitable for replanting.
Future actions will require approval from the local council, ensuring that any work aligns with broader community and environmental standards. The report also calls for the removal of debris left from the initial mowing, the establishment of a buffer zone filled with native vegetation, and proper management of the surrounding wetlands. The community aims to balance the natural beauty of the pathways with accessibility and safety for all beachgoers.