The state Department of Environmental Conservation last week notified Community Board 10 that site work on the Spring Creek South Resiliency Project is set to begin in early October and continuing through January 2016.
Investigatory fieldwork, part of Phase I—Engineering Design and Permitting—will include soils and water sampling, subsurface testing, and biological, topographic, aerial, and bathymetric surveying, DEC explained. The data collected will inform the design for the project.
“Community residents can expect to see equipment such as a mobile geotechnical drilling rig and survey tripods in the park,” the agency noted.
Phase I will cost $3.34 million, and is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The project goal is to reduce damages to the Howard Beach community from future storm events, DEC said in the notice. Upon Phase I approval, Phase II—Construction—is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2017. Funding for Phase II totals roughly $66 million.
Additionally, the city Department of Parks and Recreation this week updated CB 10 on the similar, but smaller, Spring Creek North Area project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently completing the feasibility study for the site. The final analysis is expected to be released in December, with planning and engineering to begin in February 2016. Planning and engineering is expected to be completed by March 2017, and construction is anticipated to begin in May 2017, Parks noted.
While USACE is completing planning and engineering, Parks’ Forest Restoration Team will undertake clearing and invasive-plant removal on portions of the project site. The contract will be submitted for legal review shortly with work expected to begin May or June 2016.
Parks’ Green Infrastructure Team will also begin work on clearing and berm construction on portions of the project site. Survey and design of the Green Infrastructure project areas should be complete by January 2016, with construction to begin in April 2017, Parks explained.
“We’re pleased that both projects are starting to move forward,” CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton told The Forum on Wednesday.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said the work at Spring Creek will undoubtedly impact the Howard Beach community.
“Inconvenience is the word,” he noted, adding that he anticipates noise will be a prevalent issue. “But, long term—[the projects] protect us.”
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
