Seeing so many of Charles Fitzpatrick’s photos at today’s History Forum — especially his images of Ocean Park in the 1920s and ’30s (almost a century ago!)  — put me in mind of this blog that I wrote in April 2013.  I think it’s worth thinking about again…

I can’t really remember when I first realized that the streetscape of Ocean Park’s Bay Avenue had changed.  It must have been in the 1978 when I moved here permanently.  Or maybe it was later, when that huge tree at the old post office was taken down.  I guess the ‘when’ doesn’t really matter, though.  It’s the fact that it happened at all and nobody seems to mind that is the distressing part.

It used to be that Bay Avenue was an inviting tree-lined street – or at least it that’s what I remember.  I even remember when it was still a graveled road – before it went all modern and was paved with asphalt.  Even after that modernizing event, there was some sort of delineation between the ‘off street parking’ for businesses and the street, itself.  Or was there?  Now I’m really not sure…  But, if not, there should have been.

Now, in my opinion at least, Bay Avenue resembles one long parking lot.   I’m not sure if it has to do with the fact that the east end of Bay is now part of the State Hiway system.  Whatever the reason, it certainly has no ambiance at all and not a vestige of the ‘park-like atmosphere’ that Ocean Park was named for.

In fact, 130 years ago tomorrow, on May 2, 1883, the articles of incorporation were filed for “The Ocean Park Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church” marking the beginnings of the town.  It was not until about 1895 that Bay Avenue, the first street in the town, was built.  The boardwalk running alongside the avenue was used by pedestrians, including children attending school in Nahcotta.

The ‘new’ (four years old?  five?  time flies…) pedestrian walkway along the north side of Bay Avenue’s east end is not only much needed and much used, but is a great beginning to some sort of ‘ambiance restoration.’ And, even though it, too, is paved, the fact that it has that old boardwalk precedent makes the new walkway especially meaningful.

Back in 1983, an article in the Ocean Park Centennial issue of the Sou’wester said: The pastoral setting which first lured early Methodists is fast giving way to asphalted roads,landfills, and beach cottages of modern design, but if you look you will still find the old Ocean Park among the many narrow residential streets.

I’m pretty sure that the asphalt has continued to spread since that centennial issue was written. Someone told me not long ago that there had once been talk about putting a planting strip of trees and flowers down the middle of Bay Avenue – a sort of lane-divider/beautification idea.  I wonder if that will ever come to pass.  It would be so wonderful to begin putting the Park back into Ocean Park!