Community sponsors help keep Surf City’s beach accesses clean and safe.
In Surf City, not only does one good deed deserve another, but when it comes to beach conservation, a good deed raised up another.
Realtor Andrea Carter, a member of the Topsail Island Longboard Association, well known for beach clean-ups, created a sponsorship program for the beach accesses.
“This is a great example of the level of care and concern our residents have for the beach,” Carter says. “Individuals and businesses came together to assist the town in their efforts to keep our beach clean. All 36 public accesses within the city limits have sponsors.”
The program began last year through word of mouth and Facebook. Soon more sponsors appeared than were accesses available for sponsorship. For a one-time fee of $100, sponsors clean both sides of the access as well as the beach itself. The fee provided clean-up supplies — shovels to fill holes left in the sand, two pairs of trash pickers, buckets — and a sponsorship sign that’s posted below the town access rules at each access. Sponsors are individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations including local restaurants, surf shops, churches, and Realtors. Sponsors also complete a monthly report to update the city on any maintenance issues with the access.
Credit: Topsail Island Adopt-A-Beach Access Facebook Page
“This public/private project serves to complement the town’s Park and Recreation Department efforts in maintaining our accesses and our beach,” says Surf City Councilman Dwight Torres. “The Roland Avenue access is a cornerstone of the project and was reserved for the Topsail Island Longboard Association as an honor and testament to their genuine care and love for our beach.”
Carter says the group wants to do all they can to keep the each clean and aid the town in the maintenance of the accesses.
“Residents and business owners can come together for the good of the community,” she says. “City government doesn’t always have to lead the way.”
The program is only in Surf City, though Carter says they would like to expand to the north end of the island. Topsail Beach has an adopt-a-beach access program as well.
Details on that program: https://www.facebook.com/TIBEACHACCESS/
