North Hempstead Beach Park, Nancy Court Pump Station each to receive $1M in federal funding

0
North Hempstead Beach Park, Nancy Court Pump Station each to receive $1M in federal funding
North Hempstead Town Board members pose with U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) which a check of $1 million for North Hempstead Beach Park. (Photo courtesy of Tom Suozzi)

North Hempstead Beach Park and the Nancy Court Pump Station in Glen Cove will each receive $1 million as part of a $33 million package to invest in Long Island and Northeast Queens for environmental cleanup and restoration projects.

The news came following a Thursday announcement, the eve of Earth Day, at Sea Cliff Municipal Beach during a press conference held by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) where he was joined by North Hempstead and state officials along with environmental activists.

“Community Project Funding allows member of Congress to request funding to support specific community projects that will have the most real-life impacts in their districts. Of the eight projects that I secured in the federal budget, five of them are environmental clean-up and restoration projects,” said Suozzi in a statement. “I have devoted a significant part of my past 25 years in public service to cleaning up the pollution, dramatically reducing nitrogen, modernizing sewage treatment plants, and restoring shellfishing in our local waters. Since coming to Congress in 2017, I have fought for and successfully helped increase federal funding by 900% to clean up and restore the Long Island Sound. This $33 million, one of the largest single federal investments in environmental clean-up and restoration across Long Island and Northeast Queens, will go a long way in restoring and improving the Long Island Sound for generations to come.”

Funds for the 90-acre park in Port Washington that covers a 1.25-mile shoreline will help pay for phase I of the ongoing transformation and construction.

Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte both thanked Suozzi for securing the package. 

“I want to thank Congressman Suozzi for securing this significant portion of funding for the first phase of the North Hempstead Beach Park renovation project. Phase one of the project is currently underway and it entails critical infrastructure work that will protect the esplanade and beachfront park from future flooding and erosion while improving the quality of park experience through the creation of a living shoreline,” DeSena said in a statement.  “I am so proud that after many years of public participation, planning, and design, the Town is making this investment for the future of the park, making sure that this will be a place where families will be able to continue to make memories for generations to come”

“I would like to sincerely thank Congressman Suozzi for helping to secure significant federal funding for this long-awaited project,” said Dalimonte. “Since I took office in 2020, we have been working diligently on the revitalization of North Hempstead Beach Park, and we are thrilled that our efforts have resulted in this $1 million appropriation.”

Expected amenities with future renovations include a restaurant, events stage, sledding hill and athletic courts, among others.  Eight acres of parking, which amounts to 675 spots, will be converted into green spaces. 

Renovations for the park have been a long time coming. In 2017, an extensive multi-year “visioning” process began, where suggested amenities were considered after public meetings filled with residents’ ideas. 

In December, North Hempstead received a grant of $1,050,000 to fund infrastructure work towards the parks revitalization plan.

A conceptual plan in 2019 was developed by the town’s consultant Quentin Rothschild with the help of the Visioning Committee, which included representatives from every part of North Hempstead. 

Engineering and construction are set to cost slightly upwards of $2.3 million for the shoreline, according to North Hempstead spokesperson Gordon Tepper. Other aspects of the project are in the design process and costs are not yet finalized.

The former Bar Beach, located on West Shore Road in Port Washington, came under the jurisdiction of the Town of North Hempstead in late 2007 when it also acquired Hempstead Harbor Park and reopened them both as North Hempstead Beach Park.

Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenbeck said the funding will help with the growing needs of her city and bring it into compliance with a memorandum issued by the Nassau County Department of Health.

“The City of Glen Cove is thrilled to be receiving this much-needed $1,000,000 to be used for the upgrade of the Nancy Court Pump Station,” Panzenbeck said. “Rehabilitation of this pump station is critical to meet the increasing water needs of our city.  We are thankful to Congressman Suozzi for his continued efforts on behalf of the City of Glen Cove.”

No posts to display

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here