The Huddy Park Gazebo In Toms River Has Collapsed [Photos]

When I looked out the window next to my desk that faces Water Street and Huddy Park in downtown Toms River, I could tell that something was different but I couldn't quite put my finger on what, exactly.

By the time I got out of work yesterday it was too dark to wander over there for a closer inspection, so I made a reminder to myself to check it out on my way in to work the next day.

So, on my way to our Robbins Street office just a little while ago, I stopped by the Huddy Park parking lot to take a closer look.

That's when I noticed the orange fencing.

But more than caution fencing being added, it was something missing that really makes an impression.

Huddy Park's big bandstand style gazebo is gone.

According to the Asbury Park Press, the structure that's served as a backdrop for plenty of weddings collapsed over the weekend.

A township official was quoted as saying that local inspectors noticed some potential issues a few weeks ago, but the whole thing came down by itself before they could do anything about it.

The suspicion is that the storms that have battered our area over the last few months damaged the gazebo badly enough to lead to its untimely cave-in.

It wasn't long ago that I used the gazebo as the backdrop to a video that I shot to explain the strange sounds that had been coming from the newly redesigned park and had raised the curiosity of residents and visitors who were suddenly hearing the cries of coyotes.

The APP article goes on to say that officials are waiting for further information from their insurance company before making plans on how to proceed.

Here are some photos from Huddy Park today: