If there's a nicer time at the beach than dusk, with the ocean turning that deep navy crayola color, the sky flashing orange, people sneaking their dogs on the beach, families who don't want to pay beach fees appearing for an apres-six swim, I haven't felt it. And it truly is a thing to feel. A settled time, a high tide of contentment washing over everybody. This year, a walk or run down the Boardwalk in Ventnor at dusk has an added view: out into the ocean on the newly reopened and refurbished Ventnor Pier. The cost of the new pier, $3.2 million, was a major issue in local elections, but now that it's open, the newly elected officials seem rather pleased with it. And it is lovely. They've said they want it more accessible to non-fishermen, but so far, they seem unsure how to do that. They moved the two locked gates back further on the pier, and the first gate, they seem to want to leave open to spectators at least part of the time.
Right now, it has a handwritten 8 to 4 p.m., which seems kind of stingy:
Why not 8 a.m to 8 p.m. in the summer? Or, closed at dusk. But already, the local custom seems to have been set: leave the gate ajar when you leave. It's truly too nice to not want the next person to see it. That first gate will take you out to the first "T" with benches. Which is nice, but further out, past the gate that says you require a key, is even lovelier:
The key requires a form and $30 for non-fishermen, $90 to fish, for the season, which I guess they have the right to charge, on top of your beach tag, but it sure seems like the kind of amenity that should be open for a twilight walk, regardless of whether you knew enough to cough up the $30. (You can buy the pass on the pier during the day, or at City Hall).
Again, didn't seem hard to find someone to let you in, and walking to the very end at dusk was not to be missed:
Great view of the surfers:
Seems like in the summer at least, people should be welcome on the pier at least until dark. (Darkness at the edge of the pier did seem unsafe.) Then send the bicycle cops on the Boardwalk to lock the gate. It's also been striking to look at the pier from the Boardwalk and see so many people walking out to the end, to see movement on such an iconic structure. In the meantime, check it out if you're in Ventnor.
And leave the gate open for the next guy:
UPDATE: Today, at midday, the second gate was locked, so people walking onto the pier without a fishing key could only get halfway. And then peer, pun intended, through the gate at the rest of it. To which I say, why oh why? Especially because the new commissioners promised to make the pier open to all residents, not just the several hundred fishermen. It seems like if you at least have a beach tag, the pier should be open to you. All that money, why not let as many people as possible enjoy?
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