NYC Parks Unveils New Recreation Space at Sunset Cove in Broad Channel
On Friday, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, City Councilwoman Joann Ariola, Co-chair of the Parks Committee for CB14 John McCambridge, Broad Channel Civic Association & Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers Representative Dan Mundy Jr., and members of the community to celebrate the completion of work at Sunset Cove, which includes a new outdoor classroom and boardwalk built with reclaimed wood from the Sandy-destroyed Rockaway Boardwalk.
“I am beyond thrilled to complete the second phase of the Sunset Cove project, completely revitalizing a space that was for years inaccessible to the community,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “With restored natural areas, a new boardwalk, and an outdoor classroom for the children of this community to explore the natural world, this project truly strikes to the core of our work at Parks, which is to further enrich the lives of New Yorkers through environmental stewardship.”
“This use of reclaimed Rockaway Boardwalk wood in the construction of this wonderful recreation space at Sunset Cove is symbolic of Broad Channel’s remarkable recovery from Hurricane Sandy and of the fact this neighborhood and all of Queens are being built back better than they ever were before,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Thanks to this project, residents and visitors will be able to easily enjoy the beautiful Sunset Cove wetland area and all of its spectacular sunsets. I’m very proud the Queens Borough President’s Office joined our partners in government in funding this critically important project.”
“Sunset Cove is magnificent! This revitalization is what happens when community partners come together. Thank you to NYC Parks’ Elizabeth Jordan and Broad Channel’s own Dan Mundry Jr. The new Sunset Cove brings this neighborhood to a whole new level, and I can’t wait to see benefits the boardwalk and outdoor classroom bring to our community,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.
“It’s great to see this space be revitalized and turned into a true asset for the community,” said Councilwoman Joann Ariola. “This is an amazing project that will bring enormous benefits to Broad Channel for years to come.”
The second of two phases of work, the recently completed project has constructed an 8-foot-wide boardwalk adjacent to the newly restored wetlands at Sunset Cove Park. The boardwalk was partially constructed using reclaimed wood from the Rockaway Boardwalk destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and leads to a covered outdoor classroom that has interpretive elements, including inset seasonal sun position information and binoculars. A new bioswale has also been built at the park entrance to collect storm water.
Phase one of the project, previously completed in June 2019, restored 4.5 acres of salt marsh and 7 acres of maritime upland in the park to improve habitat, enhance public waterfront access, and reduce wave and wind impacts during storms.
The $4.2 million phase two project was funded through a New York Rising grant, with additional support from the Office of the Queens Borough President, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr., and then-Assemblymember Phil Goldfeder, with continued support from Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato.
The recently released Mayor’s Management Report shows that the administration’s focus on public safety, public space, and people continues to pay off. In FY23, NYC Parks completed 141 capital projects, exceeding the target of 125, with 88 percent of project construction completed on time or early and 91 percent within budget, also surpassing targets.
