NYC Announces $90 Million Restoration to 79th Street Boat Basin

  Last modified on October 24th, 2021

NYC Parks has announced that the 80 year old 79th Street Boat Basin in Riverside Park will undergo a total reconstruction. The project, which is currently in its final design stages and under review for approval, will aim to “make the historic marina climate resilient, enable more ecological research and education, and expand access for boaters,” according to a June 14 press release.

The total budget for the project is $89.2 million, $60.9 million of which is coming from the City. The remaining $28.3 million will come from FEMA.

While construction is scheduled to begin in 2023, the Boat Basin will be closing in November 2021 due to “excessive deterioration to the site’s wooden dock framework and concrete foundation.” Boaters who will need to relocate will be given assistance in finding a new marina by the Parks Department, and “all current permittees will be given priority to return to the Boat Basin” once it is complete.

The project will involve dredging and demolishing the current site, reconstructing all wooden structures with “modern resiliency standards.” The Parks Department also states that “failing timber will be replaced with steel and concrete support structures, and the floating dock pilings and dock house structure will be elevated to protect against storm surge.”

Once complete, the Boat Basin will be ADA-accessible for the first time, and boater access will be increased with the addition of new berths and a new dock.

New space will also be allocated for visiting ships, “allowing for expanded partnerships with environmental organizations conducting marine-based research and education in the area.”

“After years of community requests for improvements to the Boat Basin, we are happy to work with our partners at NYCEDC to deliver a needed reconstruction for this beloved connection to the waterfront,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “Thanks to funding from Mayor de Blasio and FEMA, the deteriorating wooden marina will be rebuilt as a modern, climate-resilient facility that increases access to boating and environmental research.”




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