The City Fire Department and Department of Design and Construction on Tuesday broke ground on the site of the future home of Engine Co. 268/Ladder Co. 137 on Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park.
The planned drive-through facility provides parking for multiple apparatus, as well as ample space for tools and workshops, equipment storage, locker rooms, fitness equipment, and training. The total cost for construction and design is $40 million, and construction is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2027.
Engine Co. 268/Ladder Co. 137 was formed in 1913 in Rockaway Park. The original firehouse was constructed between 1912 and 1913 and sustained extensive damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
“It is an honor to play a part in giving New York’s Bravest the new, modern facilities they deserve,” said City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), chairwoman of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management.
Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola
