Project Description
The project is located in Great Kills Park, a 307 acre park, which extends from Miller Field to Great Kills Gateway National Recreation Area, along Lower New York Bay. The project area is approximately 34 acres located south of Ebbitts Street (Block 4105 p/o Lot 50 and Block 4108 p/o Lot 45). Although a mapped city park since 1962, the land and beach is generally not publicly accessible. The site contains a collection of approximately 42 1 1 ½ story privately occupied seasonal beach bungalows that pre-date the park mapping, a clubhouse, barn, and a number of ancillary garage structures. The New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) recently determined that the project area is eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places (S/NR eligible). Pursuant to a written agreement with the Cedar Grove Beach Club, all of the property, including all the bungalows must be vacated no later than September 30, 2010.The proposed project will demolish the majority of these bungalows so that Cedar Grove Beach can be restored and used by the public as the public parkland that it is. However, some of the bungalows would be set aside a representative sample of the type of building construction on site. These structures would be rehabilitated for public and ancillary park use in order to provide appropriate amenities for park users. The project is divided into three phases: Phase 1 includes the demolition of structures not needed for future park use and restoration of the beach in these areas. Phase 2 includes opening up the site for public access, beach cleaning/opening for public swimming, adaptive reuse of remaining structures on site, bike path installation, and rehabilitation of the existing pick up sport (softball/junior soccer) play area. Phase 3 will include the installation of new fencing/gates along Ebbits Street and construction of a new playground. As part of Phase 1 of this project, 32 bungalows and 5 ancillary garages will be demolished. This work will include the shutdown and capping of utilities, removal of in-ground and/or above ground oil tanks, septic, sewer etc. Due to the age of the structures the presence of lead and/or asbestos containing materials (ACM) is considered likely. If found, these materials will be properly addressed and disposed of pursuant to all applicable local, state and federal regulations. Lead and/or asbestos abatement work is anticipated to begin on existing site buildings shortly after the properties are vacated. DPR will also remove remains of foundation and debris on the beach off Ebbitts Street and Cedar Grove Ct. DPR will restore the demolition sites with beach grass and other native plantings. Phase 2 includes rehabilitation of existing open space resources for public use and adaptive reuse of the remaining buildings on site. Twelve buildings on site will be rehabilitated. NYCDPR anticipates that they will be adaptively reused as a lifeguard headquarters, park food concession, an East Shore recreation facility, a public comfort station, equipment storage, maintenance and operations headquarters, a caretaker facility, resident engineers headquarters, and seasonal Park Enforcement Patrol headquarters. In addition, the beach will be cleaned and opened for swimming, the existing junior soccer and pick up play/softball field will be rehabilitated for public use, and bike facilities will be added along the existing Cedar Grove Beach Place. Phase 3 includes the construction of a new playground and installation of new entry way fencing/gates.
