Casinos deemed critical to Atlantic City’s $20m repairs project

Article by : Charles Perrin Feb 26, 2024

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Casinos have been designated a key role as Atlantic City seeks to restore its boardwalks.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently announced a $100 million grant was divided up between 18 municipalities to carry out vital repair works.

Atlantic City, which is the casino capital of the East, received the most, landing $20m.

The money freed up from a COVID-19 rescue package will go towards preserving and tidying up the city’s boardwalks.

Indeed, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk is believed to be the oldest in the nation, spanning over 5.5 miles, and is about 60 feet wide, making it one of the biggest boardwalk structures in the world.

However, casinos are at the heart of Atlantic City’s vision, and the repairs will provide a safe pathway for visitors during the summer months.

The money set aside from the grant will restore the historic landmark to its former beauty by carrying out work to replace crumbled and decaying decking with more resilient materials.

Discussing the grant, Murphy said: “So many of us have created memories with family and friends at the boardwalks of the Jersey shore.

“Our boardwalks have long been a prized destination and we want to keep them that way by helping shore communities repair and maintain those wooden main streets.

“The grant awards announced are a meaningful step in preserving the health and dynamism of those special places.”

Meanwhile, Jacquelyn Suarez, the acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, admits the fund can help drive tourism in the future.

She said: “To support this significant state asset, the Murphy Administration created the Boardwalk Preservation Fund to ease the financial burden on local governments when improving their boardwalks.

“We are confident these grant awards will help our boardwalks thrive and continue to inspire and delight visitors for years to come.”

Atlantic City boasts six Broadwalk casinos and Atlantic City pulled in $2.84 billion in gaming revenues in 2023, second only to Las Vegas.