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Fair Long Beach to add concessions on the boardwalk
Space at new comfort stations could feature food, retail and other options
The city has issued a request for proposals as officials look to add concessions at the new comfort stations along the boardwalk.
City Manager Jack Schnirman said that the city is giving preference to local business owners who are interested in operating food, beverage, beach and surfing retail or other types of concessions inside the structures.
“It all depends on what proposals come in and we’ll have to evaluate them,” Schnirman said. “We’re hoping to see creative proposals and we’re expecting to see local submissions — there is a local preference in the RFP.”
City officials took the next step in improving the 2.2-mile boardwalk last year, when the City Council voted unanimously to approve an $8.6 million project to rebuild five comfort stations and bathrooms at Grand, Edwards, Lincoln, Pacific and Riverside boulevards that were wiped out by Hurricane Sandy, to include a number of concessions and other amenities in order to make it a “family-friendly destination.” At National Boulevard, the comfort station will have three ADA-compliant bathrooms at the boardwalk level, and will also house a police substation, officials said. The costs of rebuilding the structures were reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The city gave a presentation last March to mark the second phase of the boardwalk reconstruction process. It followed several public-engagement sessions and online surveys — in which 1,500 residents participated — the city held with Sustainable Long Island last year to gather public input that officials said led to the designs for the new structures.
The findings revealed that participants wanted, above all else, shaded structures, followed by outdoor showers, food and retail concessions, fitness stations, bicycle rentals, seating for dining and games, and more. They would also like to see these features added mostly at the center or both ends of the boardwalk.
