Boardwalk to open Saturday

Ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for the morning

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On Saturday, Long Beach will finally get its boardwalk back.

“We came here that Sunday night,” said resident Liz Murdy of the night before Hurricane Sandy struck, when she stood on the boardwalk and watched the ocean rise. “This is where I spend all my time. I’ve been riding my bike on the boardwalk for decades. I got engaged on this boardwalk. It’s a big part of my life.”

City officials held a press conference Friday morning to announce that the first section of completed boardwalk — from Long Beach Road to Magnolia Boulevard — will open at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday.

“The last time we were all up here together was just before the storm, and it was my unpleasant job to tell everyone to get out, to evacuate,” said City Manager Jack Schnirman. “I’m so happy to be back here today [to say] the exact opposite — come on back.”

On Saturday morning, city officials will be stationed at each boardwalk entrance between Long Beach Road and Magnolia Boulevard, and will simultaneously cut the ribbon to all of the entrances at 8:45 a.m.

“We’re thrilled,” said City Council President Scott Mandel. “This is one of the clear cut signs that Long Beach is coming back stronger, smarter, safer. We’re very proud and we feel that this is something that Long Beach deserves.”

Politicians, city officials and press gathered on the boardwalk at National Boulevard on Friday morning to hear the announcement. Residents passing by congregated at the entrance on the street, curious to see what was going on, and eventually officials allowed a flood of bystanders up on the boardwalk to hear the announcement and check out the changes.

“Any bit helps,” said Michael Creaney, a resident who rides his bike on the boardwalk every day. “It makes everybody happy. We all grew up with this boardwalk and it’s great to have it back.”

“If there were ever any doubts that Long Beach and the South Shore are back, today those doubts have been put to rest,” said Sen. Charles Schumer. “We’re not done yet. We still have homeowners who need help. We still have [things] that need repair, but everyday there is progress.”

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