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Image source: dakine kane on Flickr

NY1 reports good news about the Rockaway beach boardwalk – NYC Parks officials are confident that contractors could soon be engaged to get parts of the boardwalk rebuilt in time for next summer. Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski says, “There’ll be sections that will be open and we’ll have to quickly rebuild some entry points. Hopefully by the beginning of 2013 we’ll have contractors to do some of the quick rebuild for next season.”

This would be good news for just about everyone with an interest in the area – residents, businesses, and visitors. Jill Weber, a Rockaway Park administrator, was thrilled with the interest and enthusiasm for the area last summer and is eager to get things back on track again for next summer.

The boardwalk took quite a beating, and Hurricane Sandy totally trashed parts of it, especially the more unprotected parts made of wood. The area by Arverne-by-the-Sea, which was protected in part by jetties, and the areas of the boardwalk made of concrete, managed to get through the storm ok. Lewandowski predicts that more concrete will be used in the rebuild. Last spring Parks Department spokeswoman Meghan Lalor said, “Under a full reconstruction of the Rockaway boardwalk, we would consider using concrete.” Well, we certainly have a “full reconstruction” upon us.

In the past, the concrete vs. wood debate has spawned passionate opinions on both sides, like this one regarding the Coney Island boardwalk. In light of the current destruction of the wooden parts of the Rockaway boardwalk, we wonder how folks will feel about the benefits of concrete.

Many boardwalk businesses were also negatively affected, and some, like DiCosmos and Caracas Arepa Bar, are unsure if they will return to the boardwalk because of the level of destruction to their businesses. We hope to see as many come back as possible, as their presence certainly contributed to more people coming to “Rockapulco” for food, fun, and sand.

Parks Officials To Rebuild Sections Of Devastated Rockaway Beach Boardwalk [NY1]
City’s use of wood in Rockaway boardwalk repair angers Coney’s faithful [Brooklyn Paper]
Hurricane Sandy utterly destroyed the Rockaway boardwalk [QNYC]
Hurricane Sandy’s affect on Rockaway boardwalk food vendors


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