Egret Espy Path, Footbridge Dedicated at Bird Sanctuary

STONE HARBOR — “When I was a child you would never dream of coming in here,” a woman told a friend Sat., May 21 as they walked the freshly-made Egret Espy Path just over the footbridge, dedicated minutes prior to the memory of George E. Walters, husband of Mayor Suzanne Walters.
Those who traverse the path into the center of the 21.5-acre Bird Sanctuary, a National Natural Landmark since it is one of the few, if not the only, maritime forest on the East Coast, are rewarded seeing a three-century-old holly tree, a remnant of Seven Mile Beach when cattle grazed the island in summer, driven there by mainland owners.
Atlantic City Electric Public Affairs Manager Ronnie Town said Walters was “a great co-worker and engineer” with Atlantic City Electric. He passed on in 2007, thus it was fitting that the utility could contribute funds to make possible the footbridge that links the 114th Street side of the bird sanctuary to the Egret Espy. Town said.
As his widow the mayor, children and grandchildren stood close to the bridge, built by Stone Harbor Public Works Department personnel, they heard remarks by Randall Bauer, former councilman and sanctuary advocate, Freeholder Gerald Thornton, Councilman Albert Carusi who oversees the sanctuary, Mayor Walters, and Robert “Bob” Bartke, of the Bird Sanctuary Advisory Committee.
After the formalities ended, Suzanne Walters, aided by her grandchildren, snipped the red ribbon to open the bridge. Immediately, the youngsters raced across the bridge as their grandmother watched, when exchanged smiles with family members.
The dedication was the culmination of many hours of work by scores of local people.
One of them, Eagle Scout Kane Daly, 18, of Troop 73, West Cape May, was recognized for his project that beautified the sanctuary’s northwest corner at 111th Street and Third Avenue.
There, under the sanctuary, sign are two benches, a songbird garden, and informational signage to tell visitors about the unique tract of land that is attracting more birds than ever.