Mangano Commences Wastewater Treatment Plant Resiliency Project Along With Major Improvements to Neighboring Parkland
Bay Park, NY - July 1, 2014 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today commenced Long Island’s most ambitious Post-Superstorm Sandy resiliency project that includes protecting the Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant from future flooding and tidal surges, while transforming neighboring Bay Park into an athletic complex that includes new turf baseball fields, tennis courts, a dog run and improved access to bulkhead along East Rockaway Channel.
“This is one the most ambitious post-Superstorm Sandy infrastructure and mitigation projects on the East Coast,” said County Executive Mangano. “This is perhaps the best example of strengthening infrastructure against future storms while including smart rebuilding strategies that benefit residents and ensure the aesthetics needed to preserve the quality of our community.”
This $37 million dollar resiliency project includes construction of both an earthen berm and a decorative concrete wall surrounding the Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant – built to withstand a 500-year storm or tidal surge of up to 18 feet. This component of the project is critical as a nine-foot tidal surge flooded the plant during Superstorm Sandy and resulted in damage to the facility’s electrical system - causing it to go offline for almost two days. The shutdown caused the collection system to breach in two locations, sending raw sewage into the surrounding community of Bay Park and in Baldwin. This resiliency project is in addition to the ongoing mitigation work inside the storm-stricken wastewater treatment plant.
At neighboring Bay Park, the berm on the main road - Marjorie Lane - will be shifted closer to the new berm, allowing for new turf baseball fields to be constructed and providing for better access to the bulkhead along East Rockaway Channel. The work will raise the field level by three feet and include new drainage and storm water infrastructure, including a bio-filtration process to allow storm water to slowly infiltrate the ground and remove additional pollutants before discharge into the Channel.
“This resiliency project is an excellent step forward,” said Legislator Denise Ford. “We are able to better protect the sewage treatment plant while creating some new facilities for our residents to enjoy.”
For safety purposes, Bay Park is closed to the public for construction. Marjorie Lane will remain open in its existing location until the completion of the new roadway. Access to the boat docks to the north and south of Bay Park will be maintained throughout construction. During construction, regular working hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with truck deliveries of materials and equipment permitted between 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bay Park is expected to be opened in spring 2015 and all remaining construction on the berm complete by summer 2016.
“After touring the Bay Park sewage treatment plant multiple times, it was apparent that something needed to be done to brace the plant against future storms,” said Legislator Howard Kopel. “This project includes a berm and wall that will protect against a tidal surge that is twice that size of the one experienced during Superstorm Sandy.”