Construction has begun on a $3 million shoreline restoration project at Shorefront Park in the Village of Patchogue.
Courtesy of NYS Department of State
The mostly state-funded project will replace a deteriorating 1,300-foot bulkhead along the Great South Bay with a living shoreline that uses natural features to improve water quality, restore habitats and increase resiliency against flooding and erosion from storms and sea-level rise, according to a statement from the Department of State. The living shoreline includes a rock sill, new marsh habitat, stormwater improvements and the restoration of Little Creek and its tidal connection to Great South Bay.
The project will also improve public access to Patchogue’s Shorefront Park with a new walking trail, replace pedestrian bridges and improve amenities in the park.
“Improving the resiliency of Long Island’s coastline is critical to the safety and vibrancy of South Shore communities like the Village of Patchogue,” Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said in the statement. “This innovative project in Shorefront Park is one of the largest living shoreline projects in the state and will serve as a model for other communities seeking natural solutions to enhance their climate resiliency. We thank our state and local partners for their support in this collaborative effort.”
The Department of State’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program provided about $2.4 million in funding to the Village of Patchogue for the project, while the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation contributed $315,000, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation kicked in $45,000 and Suffolk County funded $275,000.
“Suffolk County is proud to have worked cooperatively with Mayor Pontieri, our partners in state government and the community to make this important project possible. As a result of this successful collaboration, the Village of Patchogue and Suffolk County will be the home of the largest example of a living shoreline ever completed in New York State,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said in the statement. “This historic project will defend the shoreline against flooding and erosion, increase climate resiliency, and ensure that this beautiful park remains an important community amenity for future generations.”
The money provided for the Patchogue project by the DOS Local Waterfront Revitalization Project came through Title 11 of the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, which was increased by Gov. Kathy Hochul last year from $300 million to $400 million. The program provides matching grants on a competitive basis to eligible villages, towns, cities and counties located along New York’s coasts or designated inland waterways for planning, design and construction projects to revitalize communities and waterfronts.
David Winzelberg
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