New Look for Closed Boat Ramp

With some fresh timber in place, the saga of the Glenwood Place boat ramp continues.

Crews have replaced the metal guardrail to the small ramp at the end of Glenwood Place with a timber fence. The fence includes a slot in the middle where small vessels such as kayaks or canoes, or a small aluminum boat loaded into the bed of a pickup truck can access the water.

"I wanted it to be something a little nicer than what was there," said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, who made the call to ditch the guardrail that was put up earlier this month, setting off a debate over whether boats on trailers should be allowed to access the Metedeconk River from the site.

Acropolis said he decided to close off access after neighbors complained about unruly behavior by some of the boaters who used the site. Some township residents have complained that closing the ramp will be a hardship since they'll now have to pay to use private ramps or the one at Traders Cove Marina up Mantoloking Road.

The entire issue will be of the township council led by Councilman Dan Toth, who has been leading a charge against the mayor's decision on the ramp.

"The issue is far from over," Toth said Monday.

Acropolis agreed, telling Brick Patch that he has instructed the township attorney to compose a memorandum outlining potential liability issues if the township gives "tacit approval" to the public to use the ramp.

"The township attorney is obviously concerned about the liability issue," said Acropolis.

The mayor also said his administration will prepare a report which will list the cost of turning the makeshift, dirt ramp into a formal paved ramp that conforms to current laws.

"If Dan wants a full-blown ramp there, we'll see how much it will cost," Acropolis said, referring to Toth. "It will probably cost a ton of money, so I don't know if the council would want to do that."

Toth said his committee will look into preserving access to the waterfront at other streets that dead-end to the water.

"We're going to look at them and say, 'what do we have that will work and what do we have that won't work,'" said Toth.

Acropolis said boat trailer parking is not allowed on township streets or on the grass in private lots. He said in the future, residents who allow trailer parking on their property may be at risk of receiving a code violations summons.