Community Corner

Town Beach Receives "Make-Over" Just in Time for Memorial Day Weekend

Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene certainly played havoc on the town's beach. This year, the sand is being replenished in time for the summer kick-off weekend.

A message from the Town of East Haven Mayor's office:

Every year at this time, the Town begins the process of getting the beach ready for its official opening of Memorial Day weekend. This year, at the direction of Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr., the scope of work has taken on a much larger magnitude as the Town has contracted for the replenishment of the significant sand erosion that the beach experienced as a result of Hurricane Irene and SuperStorm Sandy.  

Beginning late last week, the Town began to receive the first of up to a maximum of 10,000 tons of new beach sand to replace much of what was lost due to the effects of both super storms that devastated part of the town’s coastline over the past two tropical seasons.

The contract was awarded to Ginnetti Petroleum of East Haven at a price of $22.90 per ton, which includes purchase, delivery and grading of the product for a total town cost of up to $ 229,000.  

“Our shoreline is one of East Haven’s most popular and important resources and despite the significant cost of this project, I could not allow our beach to reopen this season in the condition that it was left in from the effects of Irene and Sandy. I have always referred to our great community as the ‘shining star of the shoreline’ and when this project is completed I am sure our residents will agree that our Town beach will reflect just that”, Maturo stated.  

Under the watchful eye of the Town Engineer Kevin White, the loads are being monitored to ensure they meet all the specifications as outlined in the bid proposal and all required certifications of product are reviewed prior to the Town accepting final deliveries.

The project is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day weekend at which time the beach will be officially open to the public.  

In addition to the sand replenishment, Mayor Maturo has directed the Town’s Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief Doug Jackson to work with FEMA and the DEEP as necessary to expedite replacement of the damaged guardrail along the marsh area of Cosey Beach Avenue and to gain any necessary approvals to clean out debris in the marshes also caused by the storm. It is Jackson’s hope to have the new guardrail in place in time for the annual VVA Fireworks-Beach Party scheduled for June 29th.    


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