What’s new this summer? That’s the question every spring heading into the season.
Along with some new special events and new business openings, two noticeable infrastructure improvements that opened to the public this month should stand out as excellent additions.
The new North Division Street playground — not huge compared to the one about to open in Ocean Pines — is an exciting addition to the Boardwalk. This is the type of play structure needed along the Boardwalk and it has already been welcomed with much fanfare by families.
We hope the city and state save their resources for more playgrounds like this in the future rather than the dinosaur and whale climbing structures in recent years. It’s a nice visual along the Boardwalk that will surely prove popular among kids and subsequently their parents, particularly during busy summer evenings.
Further up the beach to 64th Street is another welcome amenity many years in the making. The new public boat ramp is now open and will serve a tremendous public need while also improving the quality of life for Little Salisbury property owners who have for decades endured the negative aspects of hosting a busy boat ramp in their residential neighborhood.
While the old ramp in Little Salisbury will continue to be operational, it will require an annual pass card costing $50. It’s believed many locals may continue to use the ramp as the volume of users shifts to the new and improved double ramp in midtown.
Both of these new amenities serve a need in Ocean City and should be met with solid reviews heading into the season. However, it can be argued the most important aspect of these new additions to Ocean City is they are each free to use (although parking does cost a nominal $2 for the day at the boat ramp facility).
