SANDY HOOK –NJ Top 10 Beaches Ready to Make a Splash Again in 2014
Given this winter’s brutal below zero wind-chill temperatures and seemingly endless string of snowstorms, project coordinators, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) and Richard Stockton College’s Costal Resource Center, are expecting a warm and welcoming wave of response to the voting for 2014 New Jersey Top Ten Beaches survey (NJTTB) going on now through midnight April 30.
Now in its seventh year, the New Jersey Top Ten Beaches project was started in 2008, to encourage stewardship and pride in the state’s beaches while promoting a little healthy competition between New Jersey’s favorite beach towns. It’s since become a pre-summer favorite with residents Jersey Shore visitors alike.
“We all have fond memories and personal favorites when it comes to the beaches we love best,” said Kim Kosko, director of communications for NJSGC. “But this year we’re asking people to take a little time to really think about the criteria that make the places they pick worthy of winning a spot on the 2014 top 10 list. We want them to realize how important our beaches and other coastal assets are and that we’re all responsible for their well-being. What we do today directly impacts the future of shore communities.”
Kosko also noted that during the voting hiatus the Top Ten Beaches coordinators assembled a task force to review the voting process and other project components.
“It will change things up a little and, hopefully, level the playing field for all shore towns from Sandy Hook to Cape May,” she said.
This year’s Top Ten Beaches will also incorporate a tie-in project that has 10 New Jersey artists painting sponsored rain barrels with iconic shore images. Dozens of New Jersey artists applied for a chance to paint the containers and turn them into functional works of art. The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s 2014 Top Ten Beaches Rain Barrels will be showcased on May 22 at the NJSGC 12th Annual State of the Shore media event.
The beautified rain barrels then will be rolled out for a tour around the state during the summer and will be displayed at selected New Jersey beach communities and special events. The unique program promotes environmental awareness and stewardship of all our coastal and water resources.
The public also will be invited to vote for their favorite barrel online for People’s Choice after they are unveiled at the May 22 event. Details about the rain barrel project, its cooperating sponsors and the selected artists will be featured on the New Jersey Top Ten Beaches website at www.njtoptenbeaches.org.
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. NJSGC meets its mission through its innovative research, education and outreach programs.
Additional information is available by visiting NJSGC on the web at njseagrant.org or on social media at facebook.com/NJSeaGrant and twitter.com/NJSeaGrant.
