Ocean City Boardwalk Upgrades Fuel Tourism Boom in MD

OCEAN CITY, Md. (Day.News) — An eight-block stretch of Ocean City's famed boardwalk from St. Charles Place to Fifth Street has emerged from a $4.2 million winter overhaul, featuring fresh wood decking, reinforced foundations, new railings and accessible ramps. Completed just ahead of peak summer season, this marks phase one of a $7 million reconstruction effort set to continue throughout 2026, city officials announced in early April.

At the boardwalk's southern tip near the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, town leaders this week greenlit plans for a wraparound extension to ease summer congestion. The project would loop the boardwalk around the museum's perimeter, adding seating, improved circulation and ocean views for the two-mile promenade's southern terminus. Public Works Director Maykrantz highlighted how the addition would alleviate cramped conditions during high season.

Town staff now seek state approval to redirect remaining grant funds, with construction potentially starting soon and completion targeted for summer 2027 if greenlit. These enhancements come as Ocean City anticipates a tourism surge, building on last year's record 8 million visitors and projecting boosts to local hotels, which saw occupancy rates top 85% last summer. The upgrades position the beach town's boardwalk as a top East Coast draw amid rising demand for Maryland's coastal escapes.