by Paul Goldfinger
We have begun our ongoing series of articles called “The Asbury Connection,” where we have decided to cover places and events in AP which might appeal to Ocean Grovers. In our initial editorial ( \”The Asbury Connection\” ) we made reference to the “easy walk” that takes us to the center of the action. However, Eileen and I walked there last night for dinner and we decided that a safety caveat would be in order. (See the photo gallery below.)
If you take the Wesley Lake bridge near where New Jersey and Asbury Avenues meet, even in daytime, you will discover some concerns. The most obvious is on the Asbury side of the bridge, where you will be greeted by a wide expanse of tall dense shrubbery. Whether it is day or night, you have to wonder what might be lurking on the other side of those bushes.
As you make your way around the barrier, you quickly find yourself face to face with the Indianapolis 500. Asbury’s Lake Avenue has a traffic light and crosswalk lines there, but no cars slow at the crosswalk (there is no little man stop sign there), and the traffic light is blinking yellow. If you are not paying careful attention, you could step out into traffic in no time.
But the adventure is not over yet. When you reach Cookman Avenue and you find yourself at the crossroads of three streets, there is no light to help pedestrians cross over to Old Man Rafferty’s. If the westbound Cookman cars are stopped, and you step out, you could be partially across when the traffic goes green.
Our suggestion is to drive there at night. If you choose to walk that route, be careful and do not go alone. If you are on the boardwalk at night, do not walk west on Lake Avenue in the Grove, because there are dense shrubs there that partially block the sidewalks in some places and there is no lighting.
Asbury Park would do well to look at the welcome they are offering Grovers who want to walk into their city. For starters, they should chop down the bushes and turn on the traffic light. Neptune Township should look into ways to make Lake Avenue in Ocean Grove safer at night.
Crossing the bridge into AP. Blogfinger photos
On the Asbury-Lake Avenue side of the shrubs
The view when returning towards OG
Hi folks —
To follow up on my own post, I emailed Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson asking if perhaps the bushes at the entrance of the westernmost footbridge on the Asbury Park side could be trimmed back, and he has forwarded that request to AP’s Public Works Department.
Frank, I’ll have an answer on the Park View weeds Monday and will personally ensure they are removed, probably by the Township, this week, and we’ll slap yet another lien on the property.
Frank, I will find out why the weeds at the Parkview are still there. I was assured they would be gone, by the hand of the owner or the Township by now. It was already on my list of things to confirm before I was hit with this stupid summer cold, so I’ll get on it Monday morning. I’ll add the Warrington’s shrubs to the list.
I can also reach out to AP to cut back their shrubs right as you get off that footbridge, too.
Sometimes, if it’s a busy night, the NTPD will be late in locking the footbridge gates. I know it’s irksome to come through the casino or behind Dunkin’ Donuts after the gates are locked, but people were breaking into houses and carrying TVs, stereos, AC units they had stolen right over them before they were locked, and now its hard to get the big items on foot to the east or west ends of the Grove without being noticed.
I’ve been walking over that bridge for years on route to the Cookman Ave. gym. I’ve never had a problem. I’m a little paranoid now. If worse comes to worse I guess I’ll hit someone over the head with my water bottle.
To get to the house where I do volunteer work, I use the footbridge frequently. Since it’s during the evening hours I am always a bit apprehensive appoaching the shrub barrier. There always seems to be angry geese around to worry about as well. Lake and Cookman ARE definately un-friendly to pedestrian crossing as there are no walk signals and you can’t see the traffic lights on Cookman anyway. On our side of the lake, the area around the Park View and the Warrington on the sidewalk known as Lake Ave is just a mess, broken pathway, no lighting, crumbling wall, overgorwn bushes, etc., just when will something be done?
Several years ago an Ocean Grover, a young man, was jumped and beaten in broad daylight along Lake Avenue, OG side. Paul
Yes, the bushes at the end of the bridge need to be cut down. There is really no purpose for them and it is an awkward barrier that is unnecessary.Regarding the gates- I can attest to the traffic from AP to the Grove as I live on the corner of NJ Ave a few blocks from the bridge. The later problem is the “we were too cheap to pay to park in AP so we parked in OG and walked over” crew. After a hearty night of drinking many people have been sick on my block, to the point where -forgive the French- we’ve nicknamed a certain tree the “puke tree.” Bad enough I can’t park near my house, but now we have this?
Not to bring up the ever-popular parking issue…sorry!
AFLAC! Would you prefer a dead duck? Radar: Watch your step. PG
You forgot to mention the duck deposits on the sidewalks around the bushes.
The hedges need to be cut next to the Warrington. The property is Green Acres and is supposed to be maintained. I have complained to the town to cut all the weeds in the parkview; it’s a mess. I was told they had to wait 10 days after the complaint, and if nothing was done, the town would cut it down and backcharge the owners. One cigarette butt and the area will be engulfed with those weeds in flames.. I have no idea why this area is neglected and the last thing I need to hear is the building is in litigation….We still have fire and safety issues being violated there…..what’s the story…..?
I find it amusing that years ago, if you were on the Grove side of the lake looking into Asbury Park, it was a total mess…..now the shoe is on the other foot. Look at O.G. from A.P. side— what a mess! Property maintance is surely lacking. As far as the gates being locked, the crime rate in the area dropped 80% after the gates were locked.
Are there any cases of people being jumped from the bushes? Likewise, along the Lake Avenue path?
Also I was returning to the Grove from a bike ride about 8 a.m. via the bridge pictured and the gates were still locked. This has happened more than once.
We constantly take that bridge over and the pathway between Asbury Ave and the bridge is also pretty treacherous if you’re in anything other than running shoes. Why is it in such disrepair? As to the gates being closed, we don’t mind walking back along the boardwalk through the old Casino. It is a wonderful transition to the less commercial and certainly more peaceful side of the lake.
Charles: I don’t recall my source, but I was told that the crime stats in OG dropped significantly after they started locking the gates. Paul
We (party of 3-5) constantly use the bridges to go to Chico’s on Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 9-10. There has never been an issue. The gates are locked at midnight and we have “gotten stuck” in that we had to walk up by Dunkin Donuts…no issue there either. While I would always err on the side of “caution”, don’t limit your lifestyle choices if you can move about in a group safely. Asbury Rocks!
DJ — That is for sure a problem. Some years ago Ocean Grovers prevailed upon the police to start locking the bridge gate at midnight, because the bridge provided a quick getaway for thieves who would come over here at night, swipe stuff and dash back into darkest Asbury before our cops could catch them. That policy continues. In fact, often, when the police forget to lock the gate, or are late getting around to it, the Ocean Grove Citizens Patrol will call and remind them.
Now that Asbury is developing a night life that is drawing Grovers across the bridge, maybe it’s time for us to revisit our locked-gate policy.
Discuss.
About a month ago, we came back from Asbury Blues after 12:00 sometime and the gates were locked.
Asbury Park should be named “Jaywalking Capital of the U.S.” Paul
Are the two bridges over Wesley Lake between Asbury & Ocean Grove still chained/locked up at night after midnite until morning ? Some folks tell me they aren’t any longer while some folks tell me they still are. As I am usually asleep by 10pm I haven’t been able to see for myself. Anyone know ??
Grovers would be well advised to also take caution when driving in Asbury Park . The street lights change quickly (too quickly on Main Avenue as I’ve experienced!), and many pedestrians cross the streets as if they aren’t any traffic lights!