Ventnor Reopens Boardwalk After Major Reconstruction Project Completed Ahead of Summer Season
City leaders and residents celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of Ventnor’s $12 million Boardwalk reconstruction project, funded in part through New Jersey’s Boardwalk Preservation Fund.
VENTNOR – Community members gathered with local leaders on Suffolk Avenue on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as the city completed the first phase of reconstruction and reopened the Boardwalk from Suffolk Avenue to Cambridge Avenue.
The city invited the community out to help celebrate the completion of part one of this $12 million project with a ribbon cutting. Approximately $7.1 million of the funding came from the New Jersey Boardwalk Preservation Fund, created by former Governor Phil Murphy.
The $100 million fund was designed to help 18 coastal communities with repairs. Other communities benefiting from this fund include Atlantic City, Cape May, Ocean City, Sea Isle, Brigantine, North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest.
Mayor Tim Kriebel reflected on the Boardwalk's meaning to residents.
"It's a place where we start our day. It's a place where we make excuses to go for lunch. It's a place where we try to end our day," Kriebel said. "The boardwalk really isn't just a bullet point on a real estate brochure. It's something synonymous."
The mayor ended his speech reminiscing about his days on the Boardwalk in Ventnor. The project included complete demolition and reconstruction, but there were efforts to keep costs and waste down through simple design changes not seen on the original boards.
The first difference is the wood — a type called Cumaru, sourced from a certified forest in Brazil, meaning the wood is responsibly sourced. The wood is durable and requires less maintenance than other options. The second difference: instead of angled herringbone boards, the planks are laid in a straight horizontal layout. This cut down on lumber waste and blade usage, as this wood burns through blades easily, and the design allowed engineers to get more out of their materials. With so much new change, some things remain the same — historic benches with memorial plaques have been preserved and placed back where they belong.
Mark De Blasio and his team designed the project, and Fred Schiavone was awarded the contract. After delays due to snow conditions this past winter, many leaders and community members worried it wouldn’t be finished in time for tourist season — but despite the challenges, the boardwalk was completed three weeks ahead of schedule.
Along with the Boardwalk reopening, the electrical work connected to Ventnor Beach Patrol Headquarters is back up and running, including security cameras and newly installed lights.
After the ribbon cutting, community members celebrated this milestone in Ventnor’s history with walks, bike rides, and runs on their fresh new boardwalk.
Two neighbors Peggy Sykes and Barbra Gani who live directly on the Boardwalk shared what the closure meant to them.
"We live right on the Boardwalk," Gani said. When asked how much they missed access to the Boardwalk, the answer was simple: "A lot, A lot."
Both Peggy and Barbra agreed. The detour had become routine. "I had to go out to Atlantic Avenue, make a detour that way." But with the boards back open just ahead of summer, the excitement was clear: "Nothing is better than the boardwalk. So much nicer. And especially right before summer," Sykes added.
Phase 2 — Suffolk Avenue to Jackson Avenue — will begin after tourist season ends, from fall 2026 into winter 2026.
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