City uses off season to enhance ocean front parks

October 9, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – The City of North Myrtle Beach first got serious about improving the appearance and utility of the20th Ave S, NMB front access ways in 2006 when they engaged architects Mozingo and Wallace to produce designs for 6th Avenue South and 21st Avenue South. The designs included an ADA-compliant beach access dune cross-over with an observation platform, showers, public restrooms, parking and extensive landscaping. Both locations were ready for summer 2007 and turned simple beach access ways into ocean front parks.

Since then, numerous street ends have been improved, most at taxpayer’s expense; others from a beach access fund. In 2003, Council began requiring developers to either provide public parking, parks or donate to a beach access fund. That requirement became standard for developments with large impacts on the community like North Beach Plantation, Esperanza, Prince Resort, Avista and Towers on the Grove where negotiations resulted in the developer providing a 120 foot ocean front park.
 39th Ave S., NMB
The transformation of the access ways into ocean front parks significantly improved the views our residents and visitors had of our beaches; making them more attractive, comfortable and inviting.

This fall, the City will concentrate on 39th Avenue South and 46th Avenue South ocean front street ends.  Each will be closed for site reconstruction and improvements from October 11 through mid-February. New parking lots, restrooms and showers will be installed at both locations. A new dune walkover will also be added to the 46th Avenue South street end.