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$54M Jersey Shore Beach Project Canceled After Towns Clash Over Sand Redistribution

Issue #510

November 09, 2025

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather

 📢 Local Merchant Spotlight

⛱️$54M Jersey Shore Beach Project Canceled After Towns Clash Over Sand Redistribution

🚫 More Than a Century Dry: Inside Ocean City’s Alcohol-Free Identity

🦃Steps of Strength: Wildwood Crest 5K Helps Families Cope with Sudden Loss 

Cape May Local Scoop’s Events Are Sponsored By: Cape May Antiques

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 November 9

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$54M Jersey Shore Beach Project Canceled After Towns Clash Over Sand Redistribution

 A long-anticipated $54 million beach and dune restoration project for the Wildwoods and Lower Township has been officially scrapped after years of planning — and clashing — among local leaders. The project, intended to bolster coastal defenses along Five-Mile Island, unraveled after municipalities failed to reach consensus on key aspects of its execution.

New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette formally informed local mayors that the project was terminated due to persistent disagreements. Among the most vocal opponents was Wildwood Crest, where officials expressed concern that sand would be redistributed from their beaches to other areas on the island — a move they argued would shrink their beachfront, limit space for beachgoers, and negatively affect tourism. As Wildwood Crest pulled away from the agreement earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — which was leading the technical planning — warned in July that a lack of local unity would jeopardize funding. The construction was originally scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with a resolution deadline set for September. That deadline passed without compromise. With the cancellation, the funds will now be redirected to other post–Superstorm Sandy resiliency projects. LaTourette emphasized the lost opportunity, citing the growing urgency of coastal protection efforts, especially in the wake of recent destructive weather events. Hurricanes and nor’easters this year have accelerated beach erosion across the Jersey Shore, with North Wildwood suffering particularly severe sand loss between 13th and 16th streets. While there's potential for a future project using offshore sand, LaTourette warned that such an option would be significantly more expensive and would face uncertain funding prospects at both state and federal levels.

 

More Than a Century Dry: Inside Ocean City’s Alcohol-Free Identity

 For more than a century, Ocean City has stood apart from other Jersey Shore towns—not for its beaches or boardwalk, but for its unwavering stance on alcohol. Since 1909, this South Jersey resort town has officially prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages. But Ocean City’s roots as a dry community stretch back even further, grounded in religious ideals and enforced by both law and tradition. The origins of Ocean City’s alcohol-free status trace back to 1879, when four Methodist ministers purchased Peck’s Beach—what is now the city—from John Somers. Their goal was to establish a Christian seaside retreat focused on clean, sober living. Without a formal municipal government at the time, their vision was enforced through property deed restrictions and community norms. In 1881, the newly formed Ocean City Association adopted a series of “blue laws,” which prohibited alcohol sales and public consumption, along with most commercial activity on Sundays. These regulations laid the foundation for policies that would shape Ocean City’s identity for generations. The city formally incorporated in 1897 and codified its prohibitionist stance in 1909 with an ordinance banning alcohol sales and production. The movement was further cemented by civic gestures, such as the donation of a public water fountain by the local Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1915—an encouragement to “drink water, not booze.” After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Ocean City retained its dry status. In subsequent decades, new laws were added, including bans on alcohol consumption in public places and beaches, and restrictions on deliveries on Sundays. Over time, efforts to repeal some of these rules have emerged but rarely succeeded. A significant moment came in 1986 when voters narrowly repealed Ocean City’s blue laws—allowing businesses to operate on Sundays—while keeping the alcohol ban in place. The decision followed a contentious campaign that divided the town. In 2012, another attempt was made to loosen regulations, this time targeting the ban on BYOB in restaurants. The proposal was overwhelmingly defeated by nearly 70 percent of voters, reaffirming the town’s commitment to its dry identity. Even today, the cedar tree trunk where the city’s founding ministers first met in 1879 is preserved in the Ocean City Historical Museum—a quiet reminder of the values upon which the town was built. As Ocean City continues to evolve, it remains firmly rooted in a legacy of temperance that continues to shape its culture and character.

Steps of Strength: Wildwood Crest 5K Helps Families Cope with Sudden Loss 

 As Thanksgiving approaches, the community of Wildwood Crest is preparing to lace up its sneakers—not just for tradition, but for a cause close to home. The TJ Hunt Memorial Foundation will once again host its annual 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, honoring the memory of Thomas “TJ” Hunt, a local student whose life was tragically cut short. Hunt, a 2018 graduate of Saint Augustine Prep and student at Drexel University, was struck and killed by a vehicle in 2020 while working for Delmarva Power. He was only 20 years old. Despite wearing safety gear, he was hit while on the job along South Dupont Highway in Delaware. The tragedy left a lasting mark on the community. This year’s Turkey Trot invites participants to choose between a 5K run, which will take runners from the Crest Pier to the Wildwood Boardwalk, or a one-mile scenic walk along the Wildwood Crest bike path. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the race starting at 9 a.m. The cost to participate is $30 for adults and $10 for participants under 18. All registrants receive a commemorative event t-shirt and a free drink ticket to use at the post-race celebration at MudHen Brewing Company on Rio Grande Avenue.

 

Cape May is recognized as one of the oldest seaside resorts in the United States. When did it begin to attract vacationers from Philadelphia?

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Answer to the November 8th Trivia Question

What is the significance of the Cape May Lighthouse in terms of its location?

A) It is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey.
B) It marks the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay.
C) It was the first lighthouse built on the East Coast.
D) It is located on the highest natural point in New Jersey.

Answer: B) It marks the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay​.​

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