By Anna Dinger
A brand-new retaining wall is being built on the south side of the new boardwalk in Long Beach to provide protection for it during future storms. the entire boardwalk is expected to be completed by November. All photos by Anna Dinger, unless otherwise noted
Long Island’s beaches have undergone a lot of changes since Milieu’s last Beach Patrol. Municipalities had to kick it into high gear to prepare for the busy beach season. While there is still much that needs to be done to return things to the state we were inprior to Sandy, we’re happy to report that major repairs have been completed or are underway and most beaches are open to the public.
LoNg BeAch The first section of the Long Beach Boardwalk is
scheduled to be finished by July 23rd. “The first milestone is the 100-day mark, which is the middle of July, and by that time we will have five blocks or half a mile of the boardwalk up and running, that’s 20 percent,” says Gordon Tepper, director of communications in Long Beach. “It’s important to note that as sections become available they will become open to the public,” says Tepper. “So, we’re not waiting for the whole 2.2 miles. Every time something is completed and ready to go we’re going to open it up.” The entire boardwalk is expected to be completed by November. Other work is being done on the beach to ensure it is in good shape to accommodate beach-goers. “All the sand that’s been put back on the beach has been cleaned and tested and our beaches are fantastic,” he says. “Already we’ve seen thousands of people coming and enjoying it and we anticipate many, many thousands all summer long.” And for the first time ever, there will be a local food truck market called the ‘Shoregasboard.’ “We asked our local residents what it is that they would like to see going forward with the beach, one request that just kept coming back was, they wanted more food options,” says Tepper. “And this helps provide that.” The ‘Shoregasboard’ offers a variety of food choices 36 MILIEU Exclusively for Long Island Women
like burgers, kosher deli food, barbeque and more. It also helps local businesses that had to close for repairs after the storm to get up and running again. One local restaurant, Swingbellys, which was damaged severely during Sandy, has since reopened. “In the wake of the storm, when their restaurant was damaged they helped the city, they provided a lot of food for people when we didn’t have any food,” says Tepper. “This is sort of a way to give back to our local businesses.” The city is planning a wide array of activities from arts & crafts festivals to its annual International Film Festival in August. The city will also host a free summer concert series on the beach three nights a week beginning July 1st. “We’re going to have a truly wonderful summer,” says Tepper. “All of the things that everybody has come to know and love about this city are coming back, and more.” For the most up-to-date news on various rebuilding projects in Long Beach visit LongBeachNY.gov.
FIRe ISLAND Many parts of Fire Island are operational, includ-
ing the Fire Island Lighthouse, but there is still work to be done. “Through July, at least, we’re not able to offer tower tours until the construction work taking place
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WATeR QUALITY Water quality has been tested and has proven to be clean and safe for swimming. “Everything is fine,” Gorman says. “Our lifeguards scanned the sand at the bottom of the swimming areas to make sure that they were safe.” All of the beaches, including Robert Moses, Jones Beach, Hither Hills, and the beaches at Sunken Meadow all tested within the normal limits for safe water quality.
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