Beer Garden A Go For July Fair

, the Township Committee has agreed to allow a beer garden at the expanded Wall Day celebrations later this year.

The committee voted unanimously at its workshop meeting on Wednesday.

Recreation director Ed Grill at a previous workshop meeting pitched the idea of a beer garden at the expanded fair  — to be held July 1-3. The idea was met with some discomfort from members of the committee, but it was not dismissed outright.

Committeeman Clinton Hoffman has championed the idea, with support from Deputy Mayor Jeff Foster.

“I think Manasquan has had one for several years and never had any problems,’’ Foster said on Wednesday. “I think it’ll be fine. We’ll give it a shot and if it doesn’t work, next year we’ll change it.”

The Wall Fair is expected to expand the number of carnival rides up to 25 and feature stage performances from Wall Township bands and other talent. The event will culminate with the annual fireworks show on July 3.

“I think managed properly this will demonstrate to everybody that adults can enjoy themselves without any negative action,” Committeeman Newberry said. “Certainly if that does happen, it would change it for the future but I’m going to think positive.”

Grill has said Point Pleasant Beer Distributors, on Route 34, has agreed in principle to foot most of the bill for the beer garden this year — providing the two tents, cups, wrist bands to denote, if the committee agrees to go ahead with the idea.

“The only thing they can’t give us (free) is the beer,” Grill has said.

The distributor also has agreed to pay for the main stage rental, saving the town about $6,000. The beer garden could make around $5,000 each night, for a total of about $15,000, Grill has said.

Two tents would be set up inside a fenced-in area at the fair for the beer garden. Identification checkers would let those of age inside, marked with a wristband, where fairgoers would then pay for their beer tickets in one tent and receive their beverage in another, Grill has said.

No beverages would leave the fenced area, and no one underage would be allowed entry, Gill said. A police officer, uniformed or plain-clothed, might be stationed near the area, he said.

“I think that with all the review of the supervision. If it doesn’t work, next year we can certainly not have a beer garden but I think its something that people have been asking for,’’ Mayor Ann Marie Conte said.