Point Beach Police: Sunday's Cancer Walk Will Cause Some Delays

Point Beach police are reminding the public that the local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will cause some traffic delays from early Sunday morning through late that afternoon.

Motorists are urged to avoid driving in the oceanfront and downtown sections of Point Beach if possible between early Sunday morning and late Sunday afternoon, said Detective Pat Petruzziello.

When that's not possible, motorists are advised to allow considerable extra travel time since at least 15,000 walkers are expected to come to town, which will cause a lot of extra vehicular traffic, from walkers driving into town, and foot traffic from the walk itself, Petruzziello said.

To help reduce vehicular traffic, there will be free shuttles running from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. That includes one from the Point Beach municipal parking lot along Route 35 South and behind Borden's, one from Point Pleasant Borough High School, just off Panther Path, and the last from the Crystal Point Yacht Club on Route 70 and River Road, Point Borough.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Arnold and Ocean avenues and the walk is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Because registration begins at 8 a.m., "we anticipate heavy traffic way before then," Petruzziello said.

While the bulk of the walk is on the boardwalk, Ocean Avenue, and around Lake of the Lillies, a lot of extra traffic is expected on Arnold Avenue as the most well-known entry point into town, which also leads to the main registration and staging area at Arnold and Ocean avenues, he said.

To see a map of the route, see attached PDF. The route is from the boardwalk, heading south, onto Atlantic, then Ocean Avenue, Elizabeth, around Lake of the Lillies, onto Washington, Baltimore, Forman and back to Ocean Avenue.

To see a map of the registration and staging area on Arnold and Ocean, see second attached PDF.

No road closures are expected, Petruzziello said.

"We try to keep traffic flowing, that's why we ask walkers to stay to the right, but there will be delays at certain intersections," he said.

The walk is held across the country to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

For more details on the local event, click here.

The chamber website says: "Please support our local merchants as we give back to this very important cause. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Making Strides against Breast Cancer."

Also, Carol Vaccaro, chamber executive director, and other chamber representatives, will be at a chamber booth at the event handing out special items from participating businesses.

In an email to members on Thursday, Vaccaro said, "The Chamber will have a table at the walk to meet and greet the over 15,000 walkers that will participate this year. We would like to give you all the opportunity to give us a handout, coupon, menu, give-away etc. to give out to the walkers. Letting the walkers know we have restaurants, businesses and a downtown shopping area, will be our main goal. 

"Many of you are already involved in 'Paint PPB Pink' and will have specials that day. Please make sure you give us a flier that indicates what your special is so we can drive the walkers to your location. We will also have a limited time to make a presentation about PPB on the stage."

One of the businesses just outside Point Beach that is contributing is Windward Tavern (formally Craig's), 292 Princeton Ave., Brick, which will be donating 10 percent of food sales all day to the American Cancer Society.

"The new Windward Tavern has something for everyone and new for fall is the Sunday morning breakfast buffet from 10am to 1pm," said Mort Nase, owner/operator of the tavern. "Stop in and have a great meal for an amazing cause!"