Some Revenue from Giant Sandcastle Will Help Local Sandy Victims

Some of the revenue raised through ticket sales to view a giant sandcastle to be built on Jenkinson's Beach will go towards local residents still reeling in Sandy's aftermath.

And some of the funds will be used for Sandy victims in other parts of the Jersey Shore and the state, said Ed Jarrett, the artist about to start creating "Sandy Castle," a 50-foot-tall sandcastle structure on the beach in front of Jenkinson's Aquarium.

The idea is that the sandcastle will be a draw for visitors from far and near from the time it's finished, in late May or early June, until it's dismantled, in mid or late September, explained Jarrett, in an interview on the beach, at the site of the future castle, on Wednesday evening. Children and seniors will pay $3 each and adults will pay $5.

"This will be an international piece of art. Why would the money only be specifically for Point Pleasant Beach when people from all over will be coming here to see this?" Jarrett said. "We have to spread it out."

Jarrett is counting on recruiting an estimated 5,000 volunteers, or 20 or 30 every day, to assist as the "Bucket Brigade" to fill and pack sand in a giant, wooden bucket over a period of weeks.

"We want to help people and bring the community together," he continued. "We're going to be inviting other charities and organizations to come here and have fundraisers, they would keep 80 percent of what they earn."

When the mammoth sandcastle is finished, the side of it facing the boardwalk will be a castle scene right out of the fairy tales, complete with a two-headed dragon, one head fire-breathing, of course, and Rapunzel in a tower. The other side of the sandcastle will be an ode to the Jersey Shore, with the other side of Rapunzel's tower becoming the Barnegat Lighthouse.

Alan Fumo, a New Jersey resident whose grandmother used to live on Grove Street, Point Pleasant Beach, is working with Jarrett, a long time college friend, on the castle project. Jarrett is living nearby while he works on the project, but his hometown is Maine.

Jarrett, who has also scultped ice, snow and wood, has made elaborate, massive sand castles before, including one in Connecticut (see attached photo) that broke a World's Record at 37 feet, 10 inches. In Point Pleasant Beach, he is hoping to break that record and create a "Sandy Castle" that's 50 feet high.

The towering, elaborate creation on Jenkinson's beach will be surrounded by a 14-foot tall metal fence, so that visitors will have to pay an admission fee to get up close and view the sculpture.

During the several weeks needed to pack the sand, the public will be able to participate without paying an admission fee, but donations are accepted, Jarrett said. Visitors will be outside the castle during the tour. (This will not be a "play castle" that kids can run around in or climb and touching will likely be kept to a minimum, or not allowed, because of the intricate, detailed art work.)

Hometown Heroes to Disperse the Ticket Sale Revenue

All proceeds will be donated to NJ Hometown Heroes, the foundation of Townsquare Media and a registered 501c(3) non-profit organization based in Toms River that has been donating funds to Sandy victims, Jarrett said.

Hometown Heroes (one of the entities that had been using the name "Restore the Shore," but does not appear to be using it in connection with this project) will disperse the funds to residents who have submitted applications to the foundation for financial assistance, he added.

Jarrett referred Patch to Hometown Heroes for more information about how their application process works, what criteria they use and who will get the money, but two phone messages left on Wednesday were not returned.

Meanwhile, at the site of the giant castle, a group of children helped Jarrett lay a sand foundation on Monday in a "bucket brigade" ceremony attended by Mayor Vincent Barrella and others, lumber was trucked in Wednesday evening, that will be used to help build the wooden bucket used for sand for the castle and work is about to start.

The wood gets dismantled as the work progresses, so that the castle is made only of sand and water.

The castle will be formed from sand and water, with 1.6 million pounds of sand purchased from northern New Jersey trucked in for the project, Jarrett said.

When the castle is finished and Jarrett is ready for company, a ticket booth will be set up on the boardwalk and stairs will be built leading from the boardwalk to the beach and towards the castle, Jarrett said.

He said that he and Fumo, who explained their project at a recent council meeting, have been in touch with, and have shown detailed project drawings to, local Building Department Official Michael Gardner.

"The town doesn't seem to have a permit for us because this is a temporary structure, but Mike Gardner is going to be inspecting it as we go along," Jarrett said. He also said that he is planning to build the stairs according to code and is also in touch with Borough officials about those requirements. (Gardner could not be reached on Wednesday.)

When the castle is dismantled, small bags of "Sandy Castle" sand will be scooped from the castle and sold, until the castle is gone, Jarrett said.

"Sandy Castle" is presented by First Equity Mortgage of Sea Girt and is also made possible by Birdsall Services Group, Jenkinson's and Townsquare Media, says a prepared statement on the "Sandy Castle 2013" website.

The statement quotes Wendy Wesley, Director of Live Events, Townsquare Media, saying, "Townsquare Media is thrilled to be a part of the Sandy Castle project. Our community's post-Sandy comeback is a huge challenge and we're all rallying to make it happen. This project will go a long way towards that effort as it raises awareness and funds to help those who are recovering through Hometown Heroes."

"Schools, businesses, clubs, social groups and organizations are welcome to join the efforts," the statement says. "Volunteers will be required to sign a waiver of liability and will also sign their names in the Official Archive Log Book required by Guinness World's Record. The sand is then hand-carved by sculptor Jarrett from the top down, revealing his vision and dedication to Restore the Shore!"

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help build the "Sandy Castle" can visit this page of the website.

Jenkinson's has allowed Jarrett to use the beach for free for the sandcastle.

The Castle of Connecticut

Jarrett currently holds the Guinness World Record for the creation of the tallest hand-built sandcastle; twice in his home state of Maine and once in Connecticut in 2011.

The Guinness World Record structure in Connecticut is no longer standing. But it had been officially certified by Guinness as the World's Tallest Sandcastle on June 8, 2011, the statement says. It stood at 37 feet, 10 inches high at Winding Trails in Farmington.

"The castle withstood record rainfall, a tropical storm, Hurricane Irene and an earthquake before it was ultimately demolished months after its completion," the statement says. "Earlier In 2003, Jarrett also built a sandcastle that measured 29 feet, three inches tall, breaking the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Sandcastle for the first time and taking bragging rights from Finland. In 2007, he broke his own record, sculpting a castle 31 feet, six inches tall."

About NJ Hometown Heroes: "Hometown Heroes is an incorporated organization founded in 2008 to provide assistance to the community at large and help any individual or family regardless of ethnicity, gender and age that suddenly find themselves in a crisis.

Hometown Heroes' main purpose is to foster an environment of goodwill, generosity, and encouragement by supporting local communities when unexpected needs arise during a crisis without discrimination towards an individual's ethnicity, gender, and age.

The organization serves as an agency to provide professional services, financial assistance, and advocacy. Hometown Heroes helps those in need, often with little or no time, to find a solution to a problem that at the time appears overwhelming."