‘Boardwalk of Fame’ coming to Asbury Park
New memorial plaque program will feature names of citizens and musicians
The city is set to welcome its own memorial plaque program for benches on the boardwalk, with a twist.
In addition to providing a forum for people to memorialize their deceased 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.
Jackie Pappas, the executive director of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, presented the plan to the council at last night’s meeting.
The chamber has gotten quite a few requests for a memorial plaque program over the years, Pappas said. Officials have researched the programs in neighboring towns and spoken to program directors to come up with “a good, stable program” for the city, she said.
The program will also incorporate the Asbury Angels program, which is dedicated to honoring the lives and contributions of members of the music community in the city. Asbury Angels started last January as a part of the Light of Day concert series, benefiting the Light of Day foundation for Parkinson’s Disease and other illnesses.
Incorporating the Asbury Angels program “would create exclusivity,” Pappas said, because other towns do not have a musical component to their memorial plaque programs.
The charge per plaque would be $400 to $650, Pappas said.
Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, who was overseeing the meeting due to Mayor Ed Johnson’s absence, said the council would not likely object to the program, but that there should be smaller meetings including council members going forward.
Later, in the regular meeting, the council members present unanimously approved the first phase of the program. It could be up and running this summer, Pappas said.
