The Future Waterfront: Bay Walk Park Update 2-2005

Bay Walk Park is the vision of a waterfront park along Shore Road that resulted from a joint community effort led by Port Washington North with the participation of neighboring municipalities, organizations and elected officials.

Port Washington North is currently working with the Town of North Hempstead to put the finishing touches on the detailed plan for Phase I of the Bay Walk Park Project. This phase includes an 8-foot-wide paved walkway with attractive lighting, benches and landscaping with irrigation that extends from Gulfway Marina to Dayton Park – just north of Baxter Estates Beach. The rehabilitation of the northern pier across from Stop & Shop is part of the current phase plan. The financing of the engineering plans for Phase I has been provided by the $165,000 grant the Village was awarded in 2000. Deputy Mayor Bob Weitzner has been spearheading the effort.

The Village has now applied to the New York Department of State and the New York State Parks Department for roughly $1,400,000 to fund the construction of the initial phase of the Bay Walk project. The Town will be contributing as well. State Senator Michael Balboni and Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, both of whom have been very supportive of the project are working with us to secure additional funds.

Congressman Gary Ackerman has made himself and his office available to guide us through fund seeking and grant writing processes.

While we wait for the park to be built, the Village will continue to enhance the existing waterfront. The waterfront along the northern part of the park, where Lewis Oil was once located, has been acquired by Port North, stabilized and the waterfront section landscaped. The construction fence surrounding the property has been removed, and shrubs will be planted to improve the overall appearance of the area.

According to Deputy Mayor Bob Weitzner, “Our goal is to create a magnificent, active waterfront park for the entire Port Washington community. We are well on our way towards achieving that goal.”

The community will be invited to provide input before the plan is finalized.

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(Printed in the Feb 2005 Newsletter)