Audio Slideshow

James Dutton

Audio Slideshow Script

When many people think of the New Jersey shore they think of beautiful beaches, hot summer days and relaxation. This has been true for many beach towns along the Jersey coast except for the town of Asbury Park.

Since the early 1990’s Asbury Park has gone from one of the biggest points of interest for the Jersey shore to a run down ghost town that shows no signs of life.

For the past decade the beach town of Asbury Park has been experiencing a resurgence of life and development in order to bring the town to it’s booming economy that it has not experienced since the 1970’s.

Local business owners talk about life in the town over the past fifteen years

GUEST 1- I used to walk outside my bar and see nothing but rundown buildings and an empty boardwalk. Over the past ten years or so there has been a lot of development such as housing and new businesses. Its nice to see that the town can be what it was when I first moved here.

Walking down the boardwalk you can see the building of what used to be the Asbury skate park, which is in talks to reopen in order to draw the younger crowd that has been lacking for many years.

GUEST 1- it’s nice to see that younger people are starting to show up once again. Now that the crime rate has dropped people aren’t afraid to let their kids come out and have a good time without any worries.

One reason for the recent boom is the residential aspect of the town. Many areas that used to be vacant lots or run down buildings are turning into affordable housing that is attraction younger adults ranging from 23 to 35 years of age. One new resident talks about why they moved to Asbury.

GUEST 2- I moved into Asbury from Middletown about a year ago. I’ve met a lot of interesting people and there’s always something to do on the weekends whether it be going to the Asbury Lanes or the Saint. I’m very happy here there is not much to complain about.

Now that Asbury Park is beginning to come back to life many people wish to bring back the Music festivals that brought many tourists to the area.

Guest 1- within the next ten years or so I hope that this town becomes the New Orleans of the Northeast

For Kean News I’m James Dutton.