BARNEGAT – For decades, visitors to Barnegat’s Municipal Dock climbed the pavilion’s wooden stairs for bay breezes, relief from the sun and panoramic views stretching toward Old Barney. Today, that familiar two-story landmark is gone from the township’s waterfront skyline.
The transformation comes after township officials determined the aging pavilion had suffered additional structural deterioration, leading to the removal of the second story earlier this year.
What remains today is a single-story open-air structure that now flows almost seamlessly into the boardwalk running along the water’s edge rather than rising above it. The only clear indication of where the upper wooden structure once stood can now be seen in the green paint markings that remain on the posts.
The pavilion’s upper level had already been closed since June 2024 after inspections revealed concerns involving support components and deterioration. Township officials initially emphasized their intention to preserve the longtime waterfront fixture rather than replace it.
Township Engineer Kurt Otto said the municipality retained an architect and structural engineer during the summer of 2024 to evaluate the pavilion at the municipal docks on East Bay Avenue.
“After their review and analysis in November 2024, the Township authorized CME Associates to prepare plans and specifications for the rehabilitation of the municipal pavilion,” Otto said.
The proposed rehabilitation included a new roof, a new structural steel support beam, additional second-floor supports, stainless steel brackets, selective replacement of wood beams and columns, lighting and painting. Initial estimates projected the work would cost between $130,000 and $150,000.
Rising Costs And A Difficult Decision
As engineering plans moved forward, township officials delayed bidding while applying for a New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Local Recreation Improvement Grant, commonly known as an LRIG grant.
“The Township applied for grant in February 2025, and had to await grant application results prior to bidding, as any grant award requires no work to begin until the actual date of grant award being finalized,” Otto explained. “Meaning, Township could not start any work until grant award.”
The LRIG program provides funding to improve parks, recreational facilities and public outdoor spaces throughout New Jersey. In April 2025, the Department of Community Affairs announced $19.517 million in LRIG awards to 246 local governments and school districts statewide. Barnegat was not among the recipients.
Several Ocean County communities did receive grants, including Jackson Township, Ocean Gate, Seaside Park, Mantoloking and Lakewood. According to Otto, Barnegat was formally notified in June 2025 that its application had not been selected.
The township then advertised for bids for the pavilion rehabilitation project. Officials quickly discovered the anticipated costs had climbed well beyond original projections. “The low bid was $229,978, and the high bid was $793,655,” Otto said. “Due to the low bid being $80,000 more than the high end of the cost estimate, all bids were rejected.”
While follow-up inspections and evaluations continued, engineers determined the structure had deteriorated further. “Out of abundance of caution, the entire pavilion was shut down,” Otto said. “At that time, it was decided to request the services of a crane operator in order to remove the second story, such that the lower pavilion level could be utilized while the Township and consultants work on a future plan for the pavilion.”
For now, the lower pavilion remains open for public use for the summer of 2026.
Otto said the township has again applied for LRIG funding while considering multiple possibilities for the future of the structure. “Presently, the Township again has applied to New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for a Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) for a grant to help offset the cost of either: A new roof for the single story pavilion; full demolition and replacement with a one-story pavilion; or full demolition and replacement with a new two-story pavilion,” Otto said.
Last month, the Department of Community Affairs announced the recipients of the 2026 LIRG grants. The total funding has been reduced to $9.918 million with 154 local governments selected across the state. Barnegat is not on the list.
Township officials are now reevaluating the project with updated estimates for all three possibilities.
A Piece Of Barnegat’s Identity
The pavilion has long held a sentimental place in Barnegat’s history. Previous reporting documented its presence at the municipal docks dating back at least to the 1930s.
Residents have recalled climbing the wooden stairs as children, watching fireworks from the upper deck, or simply enjoying unobstructed views of Barnegat Bay above the fishing and crabbing activity below. The structure also became recognizable to boaters approaching Barnegat’s waterfront from the bay side.
Gary Brower, who previously shared historical photographs and reflections about the pavilion, described the structure as part of the township’s character.
“One of the things that makes Barnegat unique is the number of historic residences and other structures still standing that give Barnegat a unique feel,” Brower said. “The two-story pavilion on the bay has literally been there for the entire life of just about anyone alive today.”
Brower said residents frequently approached him after access to the pavilion was restricted, worried the structure could ultimately disappear.
“One of the people expressed disappointment as they had brought their children to Barnegat’s bayfront so that they could take their kids up to the second floor for an unobstructed view of the bay over the fishing and crabbing activities occurring at ground level,” he said.
He added that the pavilion had become symbolic of Barnegat itself for those arriving by water.
“I think it’s fair to say that the pavilion has also become a symbol of Barnegat for those on the bay in their boats,” Brower said. “To lose that would, in my opinion, be a real loss beyond whatever the difference may be in cost between continuing to have such a structure and replacing it with something that resembles the one-story gazebos that can be found in many locations along the bayfront.”
While some residents acknowledged the financial and structural realities involved in restoring the second story, others say they still hope the remaining pavilion will eventually regain at least one feature they miss most: a roof offering shade from the intense summer sun along the bayfront.
At least some earlier discussions surrounding the project also appeared to acknowledge that constructing a prefabricated kit replicating the historic appearance of the pavilion could potentially prove more cost effective than attempting extensive rehabilitation of the aging structure itself.
Meanwhile, some confusion has circulated regarding nearby construction visible from the waterfront. The new pilings located to the left side of the municipal docks are associated with construction of a separate new home and are not part of the pavilion project.
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