Keyport dreams no longer pie in the sky

It’s been such a long time that Keyport residents have probably forgotten about earlier plans to connect First Street and American Legion Drive, eliminating the awkward junction with Broad Street, and to revitalize the downtown waterfront.

Now that the American Legion Drive bulkhead restoration project is moving forward, those plans have resurfaced and could become a reality in the not-so-distant future.

The bulkhead project calls for moving American Legion Drive further inland to give pedestrians better access to the waterfront and allow for revitalization of that area.

This project has been in the works for so long that many residents probably gave up hope of ever seeing it happen. But the reality is that costly projects like this do not happen overnight. They require substantial outside funding, which, in turn, requires cutting through mounds of red tape.

Keyport is also getting ready to break ground for a new borough hall right in the midst of the downtown business section where a new business improvement district is about to kick off some new initiatives.

Keyport resident Kathaleen Shaw, whom many remember from her outstanding work on the Keyport Neighborhood Preser-vation Program and later the Keyport Partnership, will serve as downtown manager for the district on behalf of the Keyport Business Alliance. This is yet another plus.

Some Keyport residents are also dreaming about the return of ferry boats to the waterfront. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. We hope it does.

Anything that draws attention to the borough’s waterfront is certainly a plus.

The new waterfront walkway will give new visitors a splendid opportunity to discover what others already know. Keyport’s waterfront is one of the most picturesque spots in Monmouth County, looking out as it does over Raritan Bay, with the New York skyline visible on a clear day.

The new borough hall, for which ground should broken before too long, will not only provide much needed space, but give residents a new sense of pride in their community.

As the new century unfolds, all of this adds up to some wonderful opportunities for the borough by the bay.