Governor Kathy Hochul visited Port Washington to announce $7.7 million for shoreline restoration in Baxter Estates and $1 million for an accessible playground in Port Washington North on Tuesday, July 16.
The investment for the Village in Baxter Estates will help repair the eroded Baxter Beach shoreline on Shore Road in Port Washington. The funds for Port Washington North will be used to help create a safe space for children to have fun and socialize and make the playground accessible for those with handicaps and on the autism spectrum.
The shoreline of Baxter Beach has been an issue for many years in Baxter Estates. Mayor of Baxter Estates Nora Haagenson has been working on spreading awareness and seeking funding to help combat the eroded shoreline for ten years.
The road floods during heavy rain and wind storms, leading to a longer commute. Debris often litters the road, and the beach has become increasingly eroded.
Shore Road is an essential route used by approximately 12,000 residents and an estimated 8,000 vehicles weekly. The road serves as the main entrance to and exit for the Village of Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Manorhaven and Sands Point.
“I’m hearing the trials and tribulations of our local officials here when the extreme weather events become so severe that when flooding ensues, a lifeline is disrupted,” said Hochul. “I come from local government, so I know how challenging it is and how important it is to be responsive and take preemptive actions.”
In addition to Haagenson’s work to raise awareness of the eroded shoreline, Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, and Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte have been aiding the Mayor in her pleas for help.
Sillitti shared that she has been working on this project with the mayor since she took office four years ago.
“When anybody would listen, I would say, ‘Let me tell you about Baxter Beach,’” said Sillitti. “Then, in the Governor’s State of the State Address, she said she wanted to invest in shoreline resiliency and combating the effects of climate change. She specifically mentioned Long Island, and that’s when the light bulb went off. I made sure that the Governor’s office had everything they needed to have on this project.”
Sillitti sent photos, documents and letters to the Governor’s office to inform them of the need for shoreline restoration. In February of this year, She brought representatives from the governor’s office to assess the erosion firsthand with Haagenson.
Hochul’s visit and announcement of funds for Baxter Estates shoreline comes only one week after Nassau County and Baxter Estates had to close one lane of Shore Road due to the severely damaged seawall section, sidewalk and portion of the southbound travel lane.
Due to the undermining caused by the damaged seawall, the county closed the western southbound travel lane until temporary repairs can be made. The temporary maintenance is anticipated to be completed within 3-4 weeks.
Now, with the funds for the infrastructure project, the village has the means to make the permanent fixes to Shore Road and Baxter Beach happen after the necessary permits are obtained from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The county has already begun designing the replacement for the damaged seawall section.
“Shore Road is an essential access point for tens of thousands of Nassau County residents and a DOT-designated emergency route, and we must act aggressively to preserve its structural integrity in the interests of public safety, economic development, and environmental presentation,” said DeRiggi-Whitton. “The money the Governor has provided is the best start we could’ve gotten to working on this project.”
“We have no expectation that our small villages have the resources to do what is necessary. So we are part of the solution,” said Hochul. “We need to be able to protect the residents here with this investment. It’s going to be completely transformative.”
While DeRiggi-Whitton and Sillitti knew the funding announcement was coming, Haagenson had yet to learn. Luckily, Dalimonte stood next to Haagenson during the announcement and could help her through her shock and immense joy.
“This generous grant from the Governor will help us restore our Baxter Estates Beach. We are so pleased and proud that the Governor recognizes the importance of maintaining the resiliency of the waterfront along Manhasset Bay and its natural habitat for fish and waterfowl,” said Haagenson.
She extended a special thank you to Angel Vasquez from the Governor’s office who has been instrumental in compiling the documents and photos of the eroded shoreline.
This infrastructure project will make Shore Road safe again for the thousands of vehicles that travel the road daily, and it will also make the road safely walkable again.
“I am a fourth-generation Port Washington resident, and Shore Road is an asset in our community,” said Dalimonte. “The Mayor of Port Washington North Bob Weitzner started Bay Walk, and now, by fixing this beach, it can continue and go all the way down to the Town Dock.”
“Residents walk that road to get to the train, to get to Main Street and our downtown area and they walk it to see a wonderful sunset,” said Haagenson.
Weitzner also expressed appreciation for the state’s support for the accessible playground. Since the Village of Port Washington North completed the Bay Walk Park project in the past couple of years, the board was looking for a new project to focus on that residents could enjoy.
“We wanted to do something special for the community. And that was to build a playground unlike any other on the North Shore that is inclusive and accessible to people and children with handicaps and autism,” said Weitzner. “In an environment that is so divisive, to be able to do something that can be inclusive, and bring people together, and let people see the differences in each other, whether they’re young and old, whether they’re disabled or not. To be able to do this for the entire community is very gratifying.”
“This is going to be a one-of-a-kind state-of-the-art playground for all children to enjoy,” added Sillitti.
The Village of Port Washington North acquired 4.5 acres of open space along Channel Drive in May 2022 to build the accessible park.
Weitzner said that the village now has about $2.4 million in funding for the playground.
The shoreline restoration project’s plan is multipronged.
According to the Governor’s office, the $7.7 million will mitigate coastal erosion and flooding and improve pedestrian connectivity. The proposed construction includes a porous asphalt walk, a rock sill, gabion wall repair, and tidal planting to prevent flooding and erosion. Elevated overlook walkways, upper-shoreline landscaping, benches, a bus shelter, and energy-efficient lighting will also be built to improve the shoreline for all residents.
The Baxter Beach shoreline restoration project will protect Port Washington residents, attract new visitors, and support the local business district.
