Money left over from rebuilding the Rockaway Beach boardwalk could fund additional projects on the peninsula.
NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.
The view from Bryan's Auto on Beach Channel Drive is kind of dismal now but there's a Parks Department proposal in the works to turn this empty lot into a waterfront park, complete with a kayak launch. That's an upgrade, auto repair shop owner Bryan Bernath, welcomes.
"Everybody's neglected the bay and what's on the other side of the beach, I think it's going to bring a lot of attention over here and another good thing for the community," said Bernath.
According to Parks Department officials, there is $120 million in FEMA funding up for grabs; it's leftover from rebuilding the Rockaway Beach boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy. The Parks Department is submitting seven projects for approval. Two projects were recently added to the proposal. It includes the waterfront park on Beach 88th Street and a complete overhaul of Thursby Basin Park, including building a sea wall, new sports courts and a play area.
"It'll be great for the people and for the kids; you know to see the boats come by. Even I think we have Rockaway the beach, but this will be something different," said
Ruben Alberti, a Far Rockaway resident.
All of the seven projects were first presented to the community for its feedback. FEMA has specific criteria each project must meet.
"The prime focus was resilience, then recovery, then recreation. And when we brought the projects to the community board that was all made very, very clear at all the community meetings, neighborhood resiliency was one of the most important elements of all the projects," said Portia Dyrenforth, the Rockaway Administrator for the Parks Department.
The additional projects include raising the shorelines in Edgemere, rebuilding recreation areas along Shorefront Parkway, upgrades and resiliency investments at both Bayswater and Rockaway Community Parks, and rebuilding the Parks Department headquarters.
The seven projects will be submitted to FEMA for funding approval. Parks Department officials hope to have more information by the summer season.