By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
It’s a gorgeous summer Saturday morning in the Grove, but the wonder of it all is that this historic beach town is obliterated by thousands of tourists fighting for parking to attend the useless Giant Craft Show on Ocean Pathway.
This mega-event brings nothing of value to the citizens of our town who pay high real estate taxes but will not be able to enjoy their homes as they should today.
Why is this craft show necessary? Do we the people need hordes of tourists filling up our town for their own benefit and for the coffers of the CMA and the merchants. It is essentially a money sucking device that consumes the entire town.
At 10 am, practically out to Rt 71, there is ugly and unnecessary gridlock. If you live here, you cannot even go out to get some food or visit a drug store, because you will have to be lucky to find parking remotely near your home when you return.
So who is responsible for this travesty? Believe it or not, it is the “historic” Camp Meeting Association which founded this town, but seemingly cares nothing about those who live here and are not part of their constituency.
They speak of ” community” but they never define what they mean. This unnecessary event could be abolished with the stroke of an ordinance at the Mother Ship in Neptune.
I went out at 8 am to do a 2 hour essential errand. There were many parking spaces near Firemen’s Park at that time, but when I returned, there were none. I got lucky arriving on Heck just as someone was pulling out.
Why should the tax-paying citizens suck it up and tolerate an endless summer of religious tourism when the CMA imposes this money-making secular mega-monstrosity on us on a day when the townspeople should have reasonable access to our community? Of course the town would be busy due to a fine beach day, and we all support that.
But why do we have to tolerate another mega-event specializing in useless shlock and discomfort for citizens?
If we had a Home Owners Ass. which cared about the lifestyles of Grovers we could pressure the elected Neptuner Fabulous Five to eliminate useless suffocating events in our town.
There is no other Jersey Shore town that tortures its citizens the way that we are tortured by the CMA, the Chamber of Commercials, and the Neptuner non-representative-single-party-rule “for-the people government.”
BRIAN WILSON: “Summertime and the living is easy” Really?
Isak: Realtors have done a poor job in acquainting prospective buyers with the unique realities of Ocean Grove.
But Susan is correct that parking problems for residents is a big issue all over town, because it is not only beach goers who take up spaces. The beach goers walk, bike, drop off, and every Shore town has a beach. Spring Lake has no paid parking at their beach, but Bradley does. There are reasons for those differences. But yes, we need paid parking near the beach and downtown.
And don’t forget those Grovers who park an extra car by the beach and use it as a beach locker—no enforcement also. We have reported on the variety of tricks used to get parking. And there are warehousers all over.
And Isak don’t forget our Asbury Park problem, Airbnb problem, and mega-events (religious or non) problem.
There are many reasons why the residents get the shaft here in the Grove. Cutting down the vast numbers of tourists would be a huge help, but none of our representatives has the guts to do something.
We need a new enforceable Master Plan.
No it isn’t Susan, its a real problem for those prospective home buyers AFTER they buy a house, move in and realize how difficult parking is and then ask themselves, “What have I done?!?!”.
Parking meters east of Central Avenue is the only real solution. It would act as a massive deterrent to people looking for free parking and only encourage those visitors who are willing to pay.
Looking for parking west of Central Avenue would be such a loser’s endeavor that visitors would just travel to other beaches.
The best part of this solution is Neptune Township could suck even more money out of OG while still providing nothing in return.
I’ve said it before here and I’ll say it again, the trouble finding a place to park by your own home is a real concern with prospective home buyers in OG.