Tiki bar with seating for 200 coming to Central Jersey waterfront. Here are the details
Who wants to meet next summer at the 215-seat tiki bar planned along the Sewaren waterfront?
Woodbridge Township is preparing to receive bids next month for the bar, part of the planned Sewaren Marina and Recreation Area, which will bring the township-funded project, including an expanded dog park and walkway, into focus.
"It was always our vision to have one big marina complex," said Mayor John E. McCormac. "People love outdoor dining, and they love to be on the water."
Bids for installation of a fully functional tiki bar with site improvements at the Up Smith's Creek complex are due by Aug. 22.
"The tiki bar will start this year but won't open until next year," McCormac said.
The mayor said the township originally wanted to build a waterfront restaurant, but those plans became cost prohibitive, and instead food trucks will be at the site.
Earlier this year in his State of the Township address, McCormac said Woodbridge was continuing to make progress on the Sewaren marina, with an environmental cleanup of properties acquired over several years and the replacement of bulkheads and pilings in an effort to restore the entire area to its natural waterfront beauty.
"We will build a brand-new dog park behind the existing one, doubling its size, and Middlesex County will build a bridge connecting our complex to William Park. We are also designing a living shoreline to help stop erosion and enhance the natural habitat at our Cliff Road coast, and we are seeking funding to continue expanding the Cliff Road walkway," the mayor said in his address, which also stated a waterfront restaurant would have required a 16-foot elevation due to federal flood plain rules.
Also see: Carteret adds wrinkle to waterfront walkway under construction
The project began to from as the township acquired several marinas in the Sewaren area over several years.
"We've always owned a 28-slip marina at the very end of the creek, and we acquired the next two so that now we have a capacity of 77 boat slips," McCormac said.
The township in 2020 acquired Captain Hook's Marina, 597-601 Cliff Road using funds from a county grant, as well as another marina next to it.
"We rebuilt the bulkheads which were literally falling into the creek," the mayor said.
Dredging of the marina basin is being designed now, and the township is seeking grants for that part of the project which will go out for bid later.
Design work on the dog park is scheduled to take place this year and construction next year, the mayor said, adding the township just received some grant funding for that part of the project.
Also see: Carteret slated to take possession of first ferry boat this summer
The website for T&M Associates, an engineering firm which worked with Woodbridge for more than 20 years, indicates the Up Smith's Creek project is a multi-feature waterfront community that will require multiple design and construction phases.
The website lists that in addition to the dredging, bulkhead, tiki bar, walkway, boat storage and dog park, the project will include parking and roadway improvements, lighting, landscaping, stormwater facilities and utility infrastructures.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Tiki bar planned in Woodbridge NJ along Sewaren waterfront
