Project Description
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPL), proposes the creation of public waterfront access space and recreational amenities on the site of the former Blissenbach Marina located in West Brighton, Staten Island. The former Blissenbach Marina site was donated to the City in 2004 for park purposes by TPL with financial assistance provided by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The project location is the eastern portion of the park consisting of Block 185, Lots 43, 45, 48, 49, 127, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 386 along Richmond Terrace, overlooking the Kill Van Kull Waterway. Block 185 Lot 276, privately owned property based on available records, is also part of the project site and is a linear strip of land located north of the former Staten Island Rapid Transit Line and abutting the waterfront parkland. DPR is currently working on coordinating with the current owner to facilitate the open space improvements as intended. The parkland parcel is comprised of two individual abutting tax lots. The first has road frontage on Richmond Terrace and a building to remain that is currently used by DPR for office space for Park Rangers. This project will make no changes to the buildings. Behind this parcel is a second parcel on the Kill Van Kull. The two lots are separated by an unused right-of-way (ROW) owned by S.I.R.T.O.A. The SIRTOA ROW appears to be abandoned and DPR maintains the right to cross the SIRTOA ROW at-will to gain access to the waterfront lot. The waterfront parcel used to be home to a marina. There are some docks and piers remaining and a small amount of timber bulkhead at the western end of the shoreline. The proposed park development project is approximately 2.69 acres in size. The intent of the project is to remediate the site, secure the perimeter, improve access from Richmond Terrace, beautify the landscape and provide basic site amenities. The space amenities would include an activity lawn, walking paths and site furnishings. New water service, fencing, vehicular drop off and a 12 car parking lot, new landscaping and improved park entrance are also part of the proposed project.