Thousands of travelers flock to the Jersey Shore every year but it’s more important that you plan a visit in 2014. The fact is, tourism to New Jersey’s shore communities—with 130 miles of beautiful beaches—still hasn’t fully rebounded after October 2012’s category 3 Hurricane Sandy. The towns have rebuilt and are better than ever and that’s one reason the Jersey Shore is on Fodor’s 2014 Go List.
Insider Tip: Towns like Ocean Grove have worked hard to rebuild their little bit of paradise and they want to share it with you. Established in 1869, Victorian architecture is still a major draw of the area as is the beach and boardwalk. The downtown district—with cute shops and restaurants—is just two blocks from the famed boardwalk. But, you go to the Shore for the beach and Ocean Grove’s is pristine. It’s popular with families for its annual sandcastle and kite-flying contests, volleyball games, and boogey board races. Ocean Grove is a one-hour drive from Manhattan and Philadelphia, or you can take the train.
Source: http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/15-best-beaches-for-2014#!8-ocean-grove
OCEAN GROVE
NJ SHORE: BEACH REPLENISHMENT has begun!
Ocean Grove is the first beach to benefit from the federally funded massive beach replenishment effort which will restore beaches eroded from Hurricane Sandy. This is the largest beach replenishment ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers and is an $18.3 million dollar project approved by Congress and being paid for from Superstorm Sandy relief funds. The project was slated to begin in Avon and then Bradley Beach but due to technical challenges the replenishment is beginning in Ocean Grove.
The replenishment is designed to create a larger protective barrier between the ocean and NJ coast to ultimately reduce damage from future storms.
How are they doing it?
If you see strange looking boats off the shore of the Ocean Grove beach, those are “Dredge Boats” being used by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps are taking sand samples to discover granule size sand that matches the sand currently on our Ocean Grove beach. Special suction devices are being used to protect against harming sea turtles and aquatic life. Once the desired granules are uncovered, the sand is transported to land by floating appendages which transport the sand slurry. The process is being done in 2,000 ft. increments. When complete, the beach will be 9 feet above sea level.
Amazing!
The replenishment is expected to be completed in time for the busy 2014 summer season.