New Section of Rockaway Boardwalk Opens Ahead of Schedule

NYC Parks announced today that the third section of new construction on the climate-resilient Rockaway Beach boardwalk (Phase 4a) has opened to the public, ahead of schedule. In total, New Yorkers and visitors can now enjoy 1.5 miles of rebuilt boardwalk along the City's largest beach, from Beach 73rd Street to Beach 107th Street.

"We're proud to announce the opening of another stretch of the Rockaway Boardwalk, bringing us one step closer toward our goal of continuous completion by this summer and total completion next year," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "The boardwalk is a year-round amenity for the Rockaway community, so this additional access is great news for walkers, bikers, and everyone looking to take advantage of our city's waterfront."

"After Sandy, we're bouncing forward instead of simply bouncing back," said NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer. "Phase 4 of the new climate-resilient Rockaway Beach Boardwalk shows how we're building resiliency into the DNA of our City, creating infrastructure that protects us while giving us access to the resources that make New York City great."

"Our Boardwalk is more than a neighborhood park; it is a link connecting communities across the peninsula and vital protection against future storms. The completion of another section of this stronger, more resilient new boardwalk brings Rockaway one step closer to our full recovery from Sandy," said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. "I applaud the Parks Department for this latest milestone and join all our families in looking forward to the day when the Boardwalk once again stretches from Far Rockaway to Belle Harbor."

"As we celebrate the reopening of another stretch of boardwalk at Rockaway Beach, we also celebrate a milestone for New Yorkers everywhere who were devastated by Sandy. Our city has worked tirelessly to repair and rebuild even better than before, and each completion of another section of boardwalk is another step toward overcoming the damage the storm brought to our community. The work done to repair the boardwalk will not only boost tourism to one of New York City's greatest treasures in Rockaway Beach, but will also help protect homeowners from suffering through another Sandy by making the beach community even more resilient to a natural disaster. I applaud the Department of Parks and Recreation for their dedication to rebuilding the boardwalk at Rockaway Beach and helping to protect our communities in the process. I also would like to thank our community leaders for working with numerous governmental agencies to ensure the work being done benefits the Rockaway peninsula for generations to come. I look forward to continued construction and to seeing the entire stretch of boardwalk reopened next year," said Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach).

"The new boardwalk reflects the character of the Rockaways - sturdy, resilient and strong. Once fully completed, it will be the crown jewel for the entire city to enjoy," Councilman Eric Ulrich.

Work on the boardwalk project is being phased in order to maximize the amount of existing boardwalk available to the public during construction. The first two sections of new boardwalk, from Beach 86th Street to Beach 97th Street and Beach 97th Street to Beach 107th Street, opened Memorial Day and July 4, 2015, respectively. As a result of the de Blasio administration's push, the Rockaway Boardwalk will be continuously complete by Memorial Day 2016, meaning that all sections of the intact old boardwalk and restored new boardwalk will be linked together and accessible. The boardwalk will be entirely completed as new construction by Memorial Day 2017.

The new boardwalk, which started construction in April 2014, will set a global standard for resilient shoreline design, while providing the Rockaway community with a beautiful, functional beachfront. Part of the City's $20 billion comprehensive climate resiliency plan, the project is being integrated into a multi-layered system of coastal protection that will protect communities against future weather events and account for the long-term effects of climate change. It is constructed with a steel-reinforced concrete deck, fixed to steel pipe support piles that elevate it above the 100-year flood plain. Multiple layers of protection are also being integrated into the boardwalk design, including approximately six miles of planted dunes. A concrete retaining wall underneath the boardwalk keeps the beach's sand in place and prevents it from entering the community. Much of the new boardwalk's appearance - including its sand-colored decking, brightly colored ramps and designated bike lane - was decided during a series of collaborative design sessions with Rockaway residents.