BARNEGAT – After months of uncertainty over the future of Barnegat’s iconic waterfront pavilion, township officials say local developer Ed Walters of the Walters Group has agreed to lead an effort to reconstruct the landmark through private donations, an effort township officials say could eliminate the need for taxpayer funding.
The announcement follows the recent removal of the pavilion’s deteriorated second story after engineers determined the aging structure had become unsafe. As previously reported, township officials said rehabilitation costs escalated after bids came in well above original estimates, leaving the township searching for alternatives.
According to Township Administrator Martin Lisella, a recent meeting with Committeeman Alfonso “Al” Cirulli and Walters was “very positive.”
“Al expressed how important it was to reconstruct, but if the town did it, the cost to the taxpayers would be three times higher,” Lisella said. “At that time, Ed Walters agreed to lead a team of other builders to undertake the project.”
Walters confirmed the arrangement, saying township officials approached him after determining they wanted to preserve one of Barnegat’s best-known waterfront landmarks.
“We are always looking at ways we can help,” Walters said. “This pavilion has long been a real favorite feature in the town, and the town wants to rebuild it for the community. They asked us if we’d be willing to take the lead in getting all the costs covered and to manage the building of this pavilion.”
Rather than relying on municipal funding, Walters said the reconstruction effort will instead depend on contributions from the building community. Architectural plans are already being prepared, he said, after which the project team will develop cost estimates and begin seeking donated labor, materials and financial support.
“Our goal is to make this pavilion a reality without any taxpayer dollars,” Walters said.
Walters Group will oversee the project from start to finish, coordinating both construction and donations while also making what Walters described as “a substantial donation” toward the effort.
The plan calls for rebuilding the pavilion in essentially the same footprint as the original structure. Because the project would replace the pavilion “in kind,” Walters said only a building permit from the township should be required. He anticipates the architectural plans will be completed within about 30 days, with construction beginning roughly two months later. Once work starts, he estimates the project will take about six months to complete, which Walters said would have the pavilion by next spring.
For Walters, the project is about restoring a community landmark that has served generations of residents. “I believe the pavilion was unusable and dangerous, so the town has torn it down,” Walters said. “This is the reason why this is a real priority because the people that enjoyed it over the years do not have this facility at all now.”
The project also reflects Walters Group’s long history in Barnegat. Walters said the company established its corporate headquarters in the township after beginning to build homes there in 1996. Since then, the company has constructed hundreds of homes, owns Barnegat’s only supermarket and has maintained what Walters described as a strong working relationship with township officials.
“We have been a part of the community for over 30 years,” Walters said. “We have had a great working relationship with the town all these years, so we are happy to help.”
The pavilion has long been considered one of Barnegat’s signature waterfront landmarks. Before its upper level was removed earlier this year because of worsening structural deterioration, generations of residents and visitors climbed to the second floor for panoramic views of Barnegat Bay, fireworks displays and relief from the summer heat. Earlier engineering estimates projected repairs at up to $150,000, but bids ultimately ranged from approximately $230,000 to nearly $794,000, prompting township officials to reject them and reconsider their options.
While architectural plans are now moving forward under Walters’ leadership, the reconstruction effort will depend on securing commitments from members of the building industry willing to donate materials, labor or other resources. If those efforts succeed, township officials hope one of Barnegat’s most recognizable waterfront landmarks will once again overlook the bay without placing the financial burden on local taxpayers.
