Atlantic County Accepts Responsibility for Brigantine Promenade After Repairs Completed

BRIGANTINE — Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson says repairs to the Brigantine Promenade have been completed and acknowledged that Atlantic County will accept responsibility for the popular waterfront walkway following questions over ownership and liability.

During an appearance Friday morning on WOND's The Don Williams Show, Levinson said electrical issues involving newly installed lighting have been corrected after the county withheld payment until the contractor completed the work.

"You can't fix what you don't know about," Levinson said. "When we were told the problem that we had there, I didn't know the lights didn't work."

The county recently came under criticism after residents reported the promenade's decorative lighting was not functioning following construction work. Levinson said the contractor responded quickly once notified.

"I gave them a call and let them know in no uncertain terms that money is held in escrow," he said. "They came right up and they fixed it. So the lights are on there and people seem to be extremely happy."

Levinson praised Brigantine residents for their patience during the repair process.

"It's one of the few times where you get calls in gratitude," he said. "Usually it's, 'What took you so long?' But the Brigantine residents were very, very kind about it."

While acknowledging the contractor made mistakes, Levinson said he appreciated the company's willingness to resolve the problem.

"They just flat-out screwed up," he said. "He made it good. So I'm not going to knock him. It took a while, but all's well that ends well."

The county executive also addressed ongoing questions about ownership of the promenade, explaining that Atlantic County became responsible for the property years ago after securing grant funding for improvements.

"The reason we own that promenade is years ago you went for a grant, but a city could not apply for the grant — a county did," Levinson explained. "So we did, and suddenly we owned it."

Levinson also appeared to settle questions surrounding liability for the promenade.

Asked who would ultimately be responsible should someone be injured on the property, Levinson said the county has accepted that responsibility.

"It looks like we're going to have to take responsibility for that, and we will," he said. "The way it is written... we don't have much of an excuse. It seems like that's ours. And we'll accept that and go forward from here."

The county is also preparing to repair the promenade's handicap-access ramp, another project Levinson has previously pledged to complete.

With the lighting now operational, Levinson said he's pleased residents can once again enjoy one of Brigantine's signature public spaces.

"I'm very, very pleased that the residents of Brigantine are happy," he said. "And that makes me happy."