Trips to the beach in Sea Isle’s north end will be getting easier

A steep stairway with 15 narrow steps awaits anyone heading to the beach at Fifth Street in Sea Isle City.

Just two blocks over, at Third Street, beachgoers must follow a long, sandy pathway that requires an uphill slog over the dunes.

Neither the steps nor the pathway provides easy access to Sea Isle’s north end beaches for senior citizens, people with disabilities or families with young children.

Recognizing the challenges, Sea Isle will build a new project this fall or winter featuring a handicap-accessible ramp that will cross over the dunes at Fourth Street to make trips to the north end beaches much easier.

Also planned for the project is a new observation platform at Fourth Street that will offer picturesque views allowing beachgoers to enjoy the natural beauty of the ocean to the east and the bay to the west.

    The steep and narrow steps leading to the beach at Fifth Street are a challenge to climb.
  

The new ramp, as well as the observation platform, will be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

“This is opening up an all-new area of our shoreline for people with physical challenges,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said of the benefits of the project. “It’s going to give people with special needs access to the north end beaches that they don’t have now. “

“We want all members of our community to be able to access our beaches. Currently, in the north end, there isn’t access for them,” Custer added.

The project will be funded by a $752,440 grant from the Cape May County Open Space Review Board. At its meeting Tuesday, City Council approved a shared services agreement with the county for the grant. The agreement establishes the terms for the city to receive the funding.

City Business Administrator George Savastano explained that Sea Isle is waiting for regulatory permits from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection before beginning construction on the ramp and observation platform. He estimated construction would begin this coming fall or winter and be completed by the spring of 2026.

    Beach tag inspector Tim Kelly says people sometimes need his assistance getting up the steps to the beach at Fifth Street.
  

The ramp is needed to cross over the high dunes that stretch along the beaches in the north end of town. The steep stairway and sandy pathway are the only way to access the beaches in this area now.

Tim Kelly, a beach tag inspector at Fifth Street, was excited to hear about plans for the dune crossover and observation platform on Fourth Street.

“I think it’s just terrific. This is going to be a wonderful addition to the community,” he said.

Kelly noted that the steep steps up to the beach at Fifth Street can present challenges to senior citizens, families and children. He occasionally will help beachgoers up the steps.

“Even moms with strollers, I’m helping them. I’ve literally carried children up the steps,” he said. “People bring a lot of stuff to the beach. It’s a hike to get over the dunes.”

    The north end beaches are beautiful, but often uncrowded.
  

Kelly called Sea Isle’s north end beaches “a hidden gem” because they are usually uncrowded. They are located far from Sea Isle’s popular beaches in the middle of town, next to the bars, restaurants and retail shops.

The north end beaches, however, offer the convenience of a free parking lot on Landis Avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets. Next to the parking lot is Sea Isle’s dog park, which opened in 2023 along Landis Avenue at Seventh Street.

The ramp and observation platform were originally supposed to be part of the dog park, but are now considered a separate project.

Both the dog park and observation platform are expected to complement each other by giving visitors to the northern end of Sea Isle new attractions to enjoy.

    The ramp and observation platform are planned at Fourth Street and Landis Avenue across from a parking lot and close to Sea Isle's dog park.