It turns the beach into a civic room
The boardwalk gives the oceanfront a public edge. It organizes movement, beach access, benches, storefronts, attractions, and family rituals into one shared pedestrian corridor.
It survived by being rebuilt
The current route carries a history of rebuilding after storms, especially the March 1962 storm that leveled the boardwalk before the modern 2.5-mile version took shape.
It concentrates Ocean City's sensory identity
Food stands, arcades, rides, trams, beach openings, and night signage make the boardwalk the easiest place to understand Ocean City quickly.
Image: Farragutful via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0