A multi-year beach replenishment project in Lavalette is now complete, and the numbers show visitors are loving the newly expanded beach.

According to officials, they have never before seen badge sales at this level -- and the beaches are not even officially open full-time until Father's Day weekend.

The project includes 20-foot dunes and 150 feet of new beach.

At Town Hall, employees are selling sell plenty of beach badges.

"Right now, 35-percent,” says Mayor Walter lacicero. “We are up $150,000 from at the same point last year. That's huge absolutely."

laCicero says badge sales have now exceeded what they were before Sandy.

For some longtime locals like Dominic Santitate, the new look has taking some getting used to.

“To walk up there with two chairs and go down about a quarter of a mile to put your feet in the water, it's too much,” says Santitate. “But we can't complain. It is what it is; we will take it.”

The extra revenue will go back into the beach, higher wages for workers, additional graders and rakes and more attendants and life guards.