Town officials approved a contract for the construction of a pier and floating dock at North Hempstead Beach Park last Tuesday, potentially marking the first step in a big redesign of the park.

The Town Board unanimously approved the $621,500 contract with Chesterfield Associates, a Westhampton Beach-based marine planning and construction firm.

Additionally, the board approved a $19,875 contract with Cashin Associates, a Hauppauge-based engineering, construction and planning firm, to help oversee and manage the project.

It follows a recommendation from the commissioner of public works to keep on an engineering consulting firm to “provide professional engineering services related to the installation of a non-motorized pier and floating dock at North Hempstead Beach Park,” according to the resolution.

Carole Trottere, a spokeswoman for the town, said the pier and dock are part of a larger “visioning project” for North Hempstead Beach Park, “where we’re going to be redoing the whole park on a grand scale.”

“We did a series of visioning workshops all throughout the town asking people to come and asked what they want to see at the park,” Trottere said.

She said the dock and pier could serve as another launching point for the local rowing teams and a place to fish.

North Hempstead Beach Park, located along West Shore Road in Port Washington, has 90 waterfront acres overlooking Hempstead Harbor, and 200 wooded acres across the street.