With its multi-million dollar houses snuggled beneath abundant leafy canopies and its sleepy and carefree air,
Spring Lake is arguably one of the Jersey shore's crown jewels.
And like all of the communities along the New Jersey coastline that were in the path of Hurricane Sandy, Spring Lake's web site is quick to boast of a "better than ever" boardwalk that stretches "as far as the eye can see," bridging a "Sandy survivor" that is "still beautiful."
However, despite these claims, and despite the state's
Stronger Than The Storm advertising blitz, Spring Lake's well known boardwalk - one that used to connect with neighboring
Belmar to the north - remains a work in progress.
The boardwalk at Spring Lake is a piecemeal assembly, moving south away from the obliterated pavilion at the community's north end to showcase the considerably smaller south end pavilion. On the north end, the rebuild project is an extensive on, as the original north end pavilion housed the community pool and Spring Lake's restroom complex. Public bathrooms at Spring Lake are offered through mobile trailers parked along the reconstructed boardwalk. The space that used to house the north end pavilion is a flattened warren of rudimentary foundations nestled within chain link fencing.
"NEW for 2013 – due to the North End Pavilion re-build project, the Boro will be offering Beach Boxes for seasonal rental Each Beach Box can store Beach Chairs, Boogie Boards, two-piece umbrellas, etc.," the Borough of Spring Lake
advised residents and visitors. "These will be located on the beach along the boardwalk north and south of the North End Pavilion. There is a limited supply so act fast to secure a Beach Box for 2013."
While the damage could have certainly been worse for Spring Lake residents, as the community's beautiful homes appeared entirely intact, the signature boardwalk remains a patchwork just a half mile south of Belmar's seemingly full recovery.
But despite the setbacks on the reconstruction of the boardwalk, Spring Lake's bountiful beach is clean and is open.
