Grover Jim Rothe returns from Asbury Park across the New Jersey Avenue bridge. The view looking north (and south) is so much better now. PG photo.
By Paul Goldfinger
In July we posted a piece called “Bushwhacked (or worse) on the way to Asbury Park.” We were concerned about the high bushes on the Asbury side of the New Jersey Avenue bridge over Wesley Lake. Here is a link to that article:
It looks like our concerns were taken seriously, because the huge shrubs were removed, and now there is a wonderful, safe and inviting vista greeting Grovers who walk across the bridge for that Asbury Connection.
We thank whoever helped to get that done, including Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn who promised to make this happen. Meanwhile, new places to explore continue to open across the pond. They have a restaurant called “Toast” and another called “Fish.” When will we get “Meat and Potatoes?”
Even without the shrubs on the Asbury side, I wonder how many Grovers want to walk from Asbury Park, at night, in the dark?!
I know an Ocean Grover who was mugged in broad daylight while walking along Lake Avenue. That occurred several years ago. Another more serious incident occurred when a Grover who lived on Lake Avenue was attacked outside his home at about 1 am. That was perhaps ten years ago. If you want to confine the conversation to only the last two years and only on the Asbury side, then what’s the point? Should you not fix a potential problem before it becomes an actual problem? Those shrubs were scary to a lot of people walking to or from that bridge after dark. At any rate, the shrubs are down, so what’s the beef?
I defy anyone to produce one piece of anecdotal or officially reported evidence within the past two years of people who were mugged by someone hiding in the bushes on the Asbury side of the footbridges.
Christina,
Agree with you about Fish. Something to note: the restaurant has raised the “happy hour” prices to $6.00. Still a great value; love that lobster mac and cheese!
Chris: Yew evidently don’t know about the Grovers who have been mugged over by Wesley Lake. If yew had been assaulted or threatened, yew might not be so glib about those shrubs, which to some people, were a mugging waiting to happen.
Were the bushes (yews, I believe} that bad? Were people that frightened by what’s behind them? I’m well aware of what goes on in this area as far as crime (robbery, being jumped) goes, but I never expected anyone to pop up from behind the yew bushes. There aren’t many places to run and it’s quite an open area. They weren’t 100% perfect looking, but they did take a long time to grow to that size.I appreciated them. What they needed was some complimentary plantings around them and in the general area. The whole bridge area needs it. I would do it for free and buy the plants with my own money. Instead, they get ripped out because of a few complaints. Sad.
isn’t it a view looking north?
Editor’s note: For those who are returning to the Grove. (ie heading south) they also now have a lovely view instead of a row of bushes. PG
Fish is delicious! I highly recommend going there…especially for happy hour– half price appetizers and $5 drink specials!
Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson deserves thanks, also, as he was instrumental in working with the Asbury Park Dept of Public Works to make this happen. He is committed to AP and Ocean Grove being good neighbors, and this is proof of that commitment.