Ocean City continues to struggle with beach playground equipment options. A couple years ago, the city decided to remove the former wooden playground sets because of safety and other less wholesome concerns. Last year the city placed the dinosaur equipment on the beach and it was hoped to be the first of several different pieces of equipment that would return to the beach in the near future.
It’s much easier said than done apparently, and Ocean City Recreation and Parks Director Susan Petito updated the city this week on the endeavor. The bottom line is there are no easy and affordable options with prices in the $30,000 range for most reasonable pieces that meet the city’s criteria and unique beach scape. To their credit, members of the private sector have committed some funding to the effort, but it looks like it will take significant public dollars to bring any new pieces of equipment to the beach.
My feeling is this should not be dependent on private sector funding. The city is wise to explore grant options and other creative means. I think those avenues should be exhausted before the private sector contributes any more money.
In our resort community, businesses are constantly approached for donations to charitable causes and this initiative should not be another burden. If the city can’t find funding help within the next couple years and is unwilling to allocate operation funds specifically for the purpose of buying new equipment, it might be time to leave this issue behind.
Ever since the election, there was a simmering concern that new Maryland Governor Larry Hogan would not support the post-Labor Day start initiative.
Some people I spoke with recently were concerned about it flying in the face of typical conservative values, such as the idea that big government should not dictate decisions on the micro level. In this case, it was the idea of a mandate being passed in Annapolis by lawmakers that required all school systems to start the day after Labor Day.
It turns out Hogan does support the measure and was in attendance at a press conference yesterday in support of the legislation. Apparently, this is an issue that does not follow typical party lines. It’s more about common sense and it’s great to see Hogan express support.
“This isn’t just a family issue, this is an economic issue,” he said. “It brings a tremendous amount of economic activity, brings in tax revenue and there’s no cost to the taxpayers. As a guy who spent a lot of summers with his family in Ocean City on Labor Day weekend, it makes a whole heck of a lot of sense to start school after Labor Day. There’s just no downside to this issue. There are an overwhelming number of people in this state who are in favor of starting school after Labor Day.”
Prior to the Friday publication of the ongoing series, the Vanishing Ocean City weekly installment is posted online on this newspaper’s Facebook page on Tuesday mornings. It’s always a weekly favorite and this week’s Morbid Manor topic was among the most popular ever with more than 30,000 views. The individual comments and reflections were hilarious to read. Here are some of my favorites with the names omitted:
“Still remember screaming kids being chased up the pier by the chainsaw lunatic … Classic!”
“I remember a guy with a chainsaw coming out and I ran the whole way out past the Boardwalk and down the road … then again i was 8.”
“This was the last haunted house I have ever been in. When an actor jumped out behind me unexpectedly and totally scared me to death, I ran and jumped down the stairs. I tore ligaments in my ankle, the lights had to be turned on and I was carried out. It was 1983 and I never went in another haunted house after that.”
“I had to be removed after I hit one monster with my purse and then ran into a tree and passed out!”
“Remember it well. Lost a shoe inside there once, and peed my pants another time.”
“I also remember the hearse parked outside of it and it was greased up so when you tried to run and push off of it you couldn’t! My fun was standing outside watching everyone run and scream – that was my entertainment! LOL Great place – miss it a lot!”
“Best haunted house I was ever in. My mother-in-law was so scared she sat down on the floor and refused to move.”
“Remember when Aunt Ginny peed herself in that place because she was so scared … lol.”
“In the dim light at the end of the walk-through, there was a guy who would stand with his back to you bent over like he was working on something. You could see the exit door and you thought you were in the clear, that all the scary stuff was over. Just as you were headed to the door this guy would yank the start cord on a chainsaw, rev it up and spin around and take a swipe at you. First time it happened I reflex-punched the guy in the head and ran like Bambi through the door and back to the Boardwalk. Scared the crap outta me.”
“There is no way that that place could function in today’s society sadly enough. I remember getting grabbed, pushed and scared poopless! You’d have lawsuits today! Best Haunted attraction ever!”
“Best haunted house I was ever in. My mother-in-law was so scared she sat down on the floor and refused to move.”