Rockaway Beach celebrates debut of expanded innovative boardwalk

Rockaway Beach celebrated its latest beacon of recovery this month with the debut of its expanded and innovative boardwalk designed by WXY Architecture + Urban Design.

After Hurricane Sandy more than $140 million was invested in the Rockaway Beach restoration to repair and restore the shoreline and boardwalk.

The new project is expected to offer more long-term protection, construct a new boardwalk and develop a conceptual plan to further park and facility improvements.

The project was commissioned by the NYC Economic Development Corp. AND the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.

The new 5.5-mile and 40-foot-wide concrete boardwalk will replace the original five-mile stretch that featured a number of tropical hardwoods. The new design elevates the boardwalk above the 100-year floodplain with steel-reinforced concrete, according to organizers.

Nearly six miles of retaining walls and planted dunes will not only provide for recreation and safety but also ensure that another storm will not demolish this part of Rockaway.

In 2016 the entire boardwalk is to open for beach season; however, the final two miles of the boardwalk and the rest of the project will not be complete until summer 2017, according to city officials.

Parts of the project were designed by WXY Architecture + Urban Design, though a spokesman said the team commissioned for the project is led by CH2M HILL.

WXY Architecture + Urban Design could be called the designer of the boardwalk, and they are a project partner.

Another group involved in the project is RBA Group, which a spokesman describe “a dynamic partnership of engineers, architects, planners and environmentalists.”