PHOTO: Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (at the head of the table) led an interagency meeting in his district office last week to review plans for the proposed Sunset Cove Restoration Project. Photo Courtesy of Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder’s Office
By Forum StaffThe island community of Broad Channel will soon have a new park, thanks to a collaborative effort hosted by Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach).
Last week, Goldfeder held an interagency meeting in his district office to review plans for the proposed Sunset Cove marshland park and educational campus, having secured and committed an additional $125,000 in state grants to fund the landmark project.
“It’s exciting to see every government agency on the same page regarding Sunset Cove,” said Goldfeder. “The level of cooperation and collaboration during these roundtables is a credit to everyone involved in this important and historic project. Sunset Cove will provide a valuable educational experience for our families in Broad Channel and the wider Jamaica Bay community, and contribute to the goal of creating resilient, sustainable recreational facilities as we continue to recover from Sandy.”
The meeting, the second in the interagency series, included Dan Mundy, Jr., chairman of the Broad Channel Community Reconstruction Committee, and his father, Dan, Sr., chairman of the Community Board 14 Environmental Committee, as well as representatives from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, the City Parks Department, State Department of Environmental Conservation, State Dormitory Authority, and the National Park Service.
At this most recent gathering, the Louis Berger firm presented preliminary architectural drawings for the Sunset Cove site. The plans call for an elevated walkway over the restored marshlands leading to an octagonal platform which will serve as a viewing and educational space for visitors and local school groups. The wood for the walkway planks will come from sections of the pre-Sandy Rockaway Boardwalk which Parks has donated to the project. The project will also include offshore oyster beds designed to aid shoreline restoration and serve as an educational tool for students. According to GOSR, this will provide a strong opportunity to partner with local environmental organizations engaged in ongoing restoration efforts around the bay.
“When completed, Sunset Cove will present a unique visitor experience that is unmatched anywhere in this area. It will allow visitors to traverse out across and over the wetlands all while taking in the magnificent view of Jamaica bay and the Manhattan skyline. In addition, the project will provide opportunities for local schools to engage in marine science,” Mundy, Jr. said.
There will be a follow-up roundtable in mid-February to review progress. Goldfeder’s office is currently working with DASNY and partner agencies on incorporating the $125,000 in state funding into the overall plans, with a projected completion date in 2017.
“It’s only a matter of time before we bring these plans to fruition,” concluded Goldfeder. “I want to thank the Mundys for their tireless advocacy on behalf of Broad Channel and Jamaica Bay. I look forward to continued collaboration with them and our local, state and federal partners in the months ahead as we work to create this unique natural space for all families to enjoy.”
