Bench plaques at most shore towns are limited to family-oriented memorials, but Asbury Park will soon welcome a unique program that incorporates deceased local music legends. Program organizers recently announced Sept. 23 as the Boardwalk of Fame’s start date.
In addition to providing a forum for people to memorialize their late loved ones, the benches will also display the names of prominent Asbury Park musicians who have passed away — creating a Boardwalk of Fame on the beach front, according to program organizers. The Chamber of Commerce will handle the memorials, while the Asbury Angels foundation will organize the Boardwalk of Fame.
Plaques commemorating members of the Boardwalk of Fame will be installed on boardwalk benches on Sept. 23, starting at the Stone Pony. Each plaque will include a biography of the inductee, and a quick response code passersby can scan with their smart-phones to connect fans with the Asbury Angels website so they can share their own photos and memories online.
There are 11 inductees into this year’s first annual Asbury Park Boardwalk of Fame. This year’s noteworthy musicians include Arthur Pryor, Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, and Bill Chinnock. The inductees for 2013 will be announced in January.
The Chamber of Commerce is organizing the memorial plaque program in tandem with the Boardwalk Hall of Fame.
“This is a place for the people and business owners who’ve fallen in love with Asbury Pary to have a memorial,” said Chamber of Commerce director Jackie Pappas. Plaques can be dedicated to a love one, express a message of love for the town, or include any other message approved by the Chamber of Commerce.
Each of the boardwalk’s 250 benches has room for three plaques, and they will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Memorials will be priced at approximately $650, and will be available throughout the year.
The program will be in place as of August 15, and memorial plaques will be installed this summer. More information and instructions will be available by the end of July.
