Hundreds protest beachfront RV park in Wildwood

In an effort to bring in additional revenue, Mayor Ernie Toriano has proposed allowing RVs to rent space on the shore-town’s beaches. Though the concept has angered residents, Wildwoods free beaches cost about $1.5 million in taxes annually to maintain.

Tom MacDonald wrote about it in his article on Friday.

Since then, residents have gotten downright angry and are now determined to fight the city’s plan.

On Saturday, about 300 residents staged a protest on the Wildwood boardwalk between Leaming and Hildreth avenues.

They carried signs, chated, and expressed their opposition to allowing recreational vehicles to rent spaces on the sand, reports the PressofAtlanticCity.com.

Some were concerned that the RVs owners could spend nights on beaches that are officially closed to the public between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Others were afraid it would turn into a massive tailgate party, with generators running all hours of the night, and sewage being dumped onto the beaches.

“Residents can’t have a pet on the beach. We can’t grill on the beach. We can’t have alcohol. We can’t even go on the beach after 10 o’clock at night,” said Ocean Avenue resident Cindy Criss.

Though their protests were heard and seen, the city intends to move its plan forward. It’s already awarded a company, Point Break Group Management, a five-year beach concession contract.

For more on their plans check out the full story on PressofAtlanticCity.com.