Superstorm Sandy monument unveiled in Toms River
TOMS RIVER – Welcome to Ocean County.
From now and for generations to come, those words and the monument beneath it will greet millions of Shore-bound visitors who exit the Garden State Parkway at Exits 82 and 82A onto Route 37, headed to places such as Seaside Heights, Ortley Beach, Lavallette and Island Beach State Park.
What will no doubt become a roadside attraction in its own right was formally unveiled at a ceremony Thursday. The monument depicts a traditional family of five enjoying a day at the beach and is intended to represent the resiliency of Ocean County residents in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy.
"To the people of Ocean County in recognition of their indomitable spirit shown during the county's recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012," reads the inscription on the base of the statue.
According to an informational packet distributed at the ceremony, the Norman Rockwell-inspired bronze family (the father is 8 feet tall) represents every man, woman and child in Ocean County. The white scallop shell behind them pays homage to the region's commercial fishing industry, and the Ferris wheel symbolizes the boardwalk community and tourism so important to life here. The hand-carved waves at the base of the statue symbolizes the family rising from the floodwaters of the Oct. 29, 2012, disaster.
The 55,000 pounds of bronze, granite and stainless steel was created by local artist and sculptor Brian Hanlon. The estimated $500,000 cost was paid for by the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation on land donated by the Toms River municipal government at the jughandle for Route 166. The ground has been landscaped around the statue and a path built up to it so the public can walk to the monument and have a closer look. The future landmark is to be lit at night.
"Some would say, 'Why not build houses for those still recovering from Sandy as opposed to building monuments?' " asked Jeremy Grunin, who is executive director of the Grunin foundation. "The 'Welcome to Ocean County' monument we are about to unveil is all about our community rising together, stronger after Sandy. In our mission-focused work, our foundation has supported many initiatives, which have helped and will continue to help our community rise together."
For example, Grunin said the foundation had collaborated with Habitat for Humanity and the Ocean County Vocational Technical School to build new dwellings after Sandy by funding a 10-month accelerated construction training program for adult students to qualify them for the rebuilding effort after the storm.
"So, why art?" Grunin asked. "It's easy to think that art is an elitist endeavor. It's a 'nice to have' for many, but certainly not something that's a game-changer in a community, right? Performing and visual arts certainly affect folks living in a community in a positive way. It encourages analytical thinking, stimulates conversation and inspires others to unleash their creative juices."
Foundation founder Jay Grunin said this was the second major sculpture exhibit his family has funded, and over the next several years there will be four other projects of this scale that are being planned.
"With the engagement and collaboration with our community we are confident that these projects can come to fruition and will hopefully be the impetus for other civic-minded members of our great populace to bring other projects together," Jay Grunin said.
The Grunin family is one of the most generous philanthropists in Ocean County. Through its foundation, it has spent this year more than $5.7 million to benefit the arts at Ocean County College and $3.5 million to improve the treatment of brain injuries and disorders at Community Medical Center in Toms River. The foundation also made a $400,000 donation to the American Cancer Society and a $220,000 donation to the Ocean County Vocational Technical School.
Erik Larsen: 732-557-5709; elarsen@app.com