Plans are in the works to build public restrooms, showers and changing rooms for beachgoers in Seaside Heights, to be paid for with $1.6 million in federal funding, U.S. House Rep. Chris Smith announced.
The funding was part of federal spending bills passed recently by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden to keep the federal government operating, Smith said.
Smith's office said the funding is aimed at redeveloping the Hiering Avenue bath house at the north end of town, which was destroyed during Superstorm Sandy.
"Over the past decade, Seaside Heights has bounced back with tremendous strength and unbelievable resilience from the absolute devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy and the subsequent south end boardwalk fire," Smith said. "But one glaring ruin, the Heiring Avenue Bath House, has yet to be rebuilt."
The funds will be used to build amenities essential for beachgoers, including public restrooms, showers, lockers, changing rooms, a viewing deck that is accessible to disabled persons, and related storage, Smith's office said.
"This is great news for Seaside Heights and even greater news for our visitors," Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz said in remarks released by Smith's office.
"The bath house building was destroyed during Superstorm Sandy and we haven't been able to fund a replacement structure," he said. "These funds are critical to moving forward with our post-Sandy and post-Boardwalk fire economic development."
"We appreciate Congressman Smith and his staff for working hard on our behalf," Vaz said.
"This revitalization project, which is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy, will reinvigorate oceanfront businesses and local merchants and provide greatly needed economic support to this classic American Boardwalkâs post-pandemic economic renaissance," Smith said.
