Wildwood Crest Moves Forward on $7 Million Fishing Pier Expansion
The Borough of Wildwood Crest is pushing forward with long-awaited plans to rebuild and expand one of its most recognizable landmarks: the Crest fishing pier.
A new application filed under the state’s Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) details a major replacement and expansion project that could ultimately cost around $7 million.
The effort is designed to preserve a historic piece of Crest heritage while creating a safer, more accessible, and more versatile space for residents and the thousands of visitors who walk the pier each year.
Wildwood Crest Moves Forward on $7 Million Fishing Pier Expansion
Balancing Cost and Vision
When first discussed several years ago, the expansion carried a price tag of around $6 million. Since then, inflation and updated requirements have pushed the estimate closer to $7 million. Mayor Don Cabrera said during a Wildwood Crest Board of Commissioners Meeting on September 10th that the borough is now “value engineering” the project to bring costs down without sacrificing the pier’s essential upgrades.
“The fishing pier committee had a design that we were working with years ago before COVID and it was around a six-million-dollar project at that time,” Cabrera said. “Now, it’s upwards to 7 million. With that in mind, we met with engineering on site at the fishing pier and opted to do what we call some value engineering.”
Also See: Forgotten History Resurfaces in Cape May Harbor
This process could shorten the extension slightly or phase construction over time, with an ultimate goal of getting closer to $5 million. Cabrera explained that the scaled plan will still include new decking, lighting, railings, handicap-accessible railings, and the extension itself.
“We’re thinking that’s going to come in well within our budget. And much more affordable to everybody.”
A Historic Landmark
The Crest fishing pier has been a part of Wildwood Crest’s identity since 1910, making it one of the borough’s oldest standing structures.
It was salvaged in 2006 through a Department of Community Affairs Small Cities ADA block grant worth $400,000, which allowed the borough to repair storm damage and improve accessibility.
In an interview with the Wildwood Video Archive, Cabrera stressed that preserving the pier is as much about honoring the borough’s history as it is about recreation:
“We also recognize the historical significance of the pier. It is iconic to Wildwood Crest. While our community changes it is nice to preserve a piece of Crest history while also maintaining and improving the pier for those that wish to experience the Crest beach in a different setting including those disabled.”
He also warned that if the pier is not maintained, it could eventually be demolished and “potentially never come back.”
Features of the New Design
According to NJDEP filings, the project would extend the pier about 1,300 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, widened to 12 feet and lined with benches, lighting, railings, and trash receptacles.
Note, though, this length could be shortened due to cost or other factors down the line.
Anglers will benefit from “knockout” areas designed specifically for casting, while a gazebo at the farthest point will serve as a public vista for sightseeing and photography.
Security and rule signage will be installed to ensure safe use, and night lighting will allow extended hours of fishing. Stairwell access directly to the beach is also planned, eliminating the need to return to the main entrance.
While renderings were initially produced in 2019, which we posted here in the past, the new plans are different and are updated and scaled with value engineering in mind.
Funding: Piecing the Puzzle Together
The borough has already secured $1.1 million from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. By agreement, those funds must be spent by the end of 2026. Cabrera said the borough’s goal is to use that money to purchase materials and then begin the build in 2027.
In addition to the DCA funding, Wildwood Crest has applied for $2.5 million in Cape May County Open Space funds and is exploring other opportunities, including potential historical preservation grants.
The borough also had hoped to receive nearly $2 million in hard construction dollars as part of a state aid agreement tied to the controversial dune and sand back-passing project. Instead, the state offered a credit, a move Cabrera said complicated financing:
“In our agreement with the state as part of the state aid agreement for the dune and sand back passing project almost $2,000,000 was expected to be received as a credit which we had asked for hard construction dollars. The credit is something the borough asked for because if the Army Corps built the dune, the new fishing pier would need built to go over the top of it. That was taken off the table by the State. That is also a factor as to the Borough’s opposition to that project.”
Municipal funds will cover any remaining balance not secured through grants.
Community Benefits
Fishing remains one of the top three recreational activities for visitors to Cape May County, and the pier has long been a centerpiece for that experience. Cabrera noted that the pier gives residents and tourists alike a unique way to connect with the ocean.
“Recreationally, fishing is one of the top three ‘things to do’ while on vacation here in the Wildwoods and Cape May County,” Cabrera said.
By ensuring the pier is ADA-compliant, the borough also hopes to make it a space enjoyed by people of all abilities, preserving its role as a community hub.
The pier will remain open 24 hours a day (weather permitting) and will continue to be maintained by borough public works staff. Smaller annual repairs like decking will be budgeted locally, while storm-related restoration would be financed through bonding.
While the project is still contingent on grant funding and state approvals, officials are optimistic that the century-old pier will soon be transformed into a modern, accessible, and lasting attraction for the borough.
The expansion represents not only an investment in tourism and recreation but also in preserving Wildwood Crest’s history for future generations.
Would you be happy to see this project underway?