Board-Walkin’

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City Council, along with members of the Downtown Redevelopment Corporation and other dignitaries gathered at Plyler Park on Ocean Boulevard to kick-off the project. A celebration open to the public will be held Sept. 25 - 26.

The city of Myrtle Beach is going to take back the beach with a brand new oceanfront boardwalk and promenade. The groundbreaking – complete with plastic beach shovels and sandfilled beach pails – took place earlier this month and the project should be complete by next summer.

The $6.4 million project stretches over a mile between the 14th Avenue North and Second Avenue North piers. The much-awaited boardwalk will follow the dune line,  consisting of three different sections in varying widths. The North Walkway is expected to extend from 14th Avenue to Plyler Park at the foot of Mr. Joe White Avenue. It includes a raised wood deck with dune landscaping that will hopefully enhance the natural environment. As designed, the walkway in this section is eight feet wide with connecting pathways for beach access.

Architectural rendering of the proposed $6.4 million boardwalk and promenade project between 14th Avenue North and Second Avenue North.

The second section, which planners call “the high-intensity portion of the boardwalk,” extends from Plyler Park to Eighth Avenue North.  Ranging from 26 to 50 feet wide, this is where you’ll find beachfront stores and shops. It’s designed to invoke a carnival atmosphere and a sense of nostalgia.

The third and final section, the South Promenade, continues from Eighth Avenue North to First Avenue North, just south of the Second Avenue Pier.  It will be a lineal park promenade with benches and natural landscaping to offer relaxing views of the beach and passive recreational opportunities.  The main walkways here are 12 feet wide, with eight-foot secondary paths.

Block Party!

To help spread the word, the city is kicking off the boardwalk project with a block party-style celebration that’s free and open to the public. It will be held from  5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 and 1 p.m . to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 along Ocean Boulevard from Mr. Joe White Avenue to 8th Avenue North. You’ll find free  parking on the street and paid parking in the Pavilion parking garage at 9th Avenue North.

Get ready for lots of live entertainment. As of press time, here’s the lineup:

Bo Shronce and his Fantastic Shakers take the stage at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25.

Friday, Sept. 25

• 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Fantastic Shakers

• 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards

Saturday, Sept. 26

• 1 p.m.-3 p.m. – Legends of Beach

• 4 p.m.-6 p.m. – Charlie Thomas’ Drifters

• 7 p.m.-9 p.m.  – The Stylistics

(not the Russell Thompkins group)

Be sure to bring your shag bag, because the “World’s Largest Shag Dance Floor” will be located on the site of the former Pavilion’s Magic Attic near 9th Avenue North. A beer garden will be set up between 8th Avenue North and 9th Avenue North, and numerous local businesses will be having sidewalk sales. A 50s and 60s era Classic Car Show will be at 8th Avenue North. Food and arts and crafts vendors will be available both days. The fireworks dispay will tae place at 9 p.m.

The celebration will also feature a colored sand art rendering of the boardwalk, giving spectators a glimpse of the much-anticipated revitalized downtown project. Created by Team Sandtastic of Sarasota, Fla., the rendering will reach 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide and will use an estimated ton of sand, sitting on a base of approximately 50 tons of sand. Team Sandtastic built the World’s Largest Sandcastle for the 2007 Sun Fun Festival and sand sculptures of the presidential candidates in January 2008.

For more information, go to VisitMyrtleBeach.com or call 843) 626-7444 or 800-356-3016.