• Grillin On The Bay - March 27, 2010

Leaders Consider Long Term Solutions For Plumb Beach


by Ned Berke on Dec 2nd, 2009

The silver lining in the recent devastation of Plumb Beach is that community leaders, and city, state, and federal agencies are finally considering long term solutions to erosion issues at Plumb Beach.

Congressman Anthony Weiner once again brought together officials from Department of Transportation, Parks Department, National Parks Service, Community Board 15, and Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic on Tuesday, December 1, to survey erosion’s threat to the important ecological zone and the Belt Parkway.

After surveying the damage, all came to a consensus: more needs to be done to protect the beach and highway.

In the short term, “band aid” repairs are planned, including boulders in sandbags to reinforce the break line, and the bike path will be rebuilt by Spring.

But the damage caught the attention of all the entangled agencies, and according to SB/PB Civic President Kathy Flynn, they parted ways with pledges to pitch in and find solutions.

“They are at least starting to take notice,” Flynn said at Tuesday night’s civic meeting. “Hopefully it’s a step in the right direction.”

The foremost concern was apparent: the impending damage to the Belt Parkway. Attendees of the meeting estimated that there remains only 10 to 15 feet of protection left before the Belt Parkway begins to cave in. The recent storm, fueled by Hurricane Ida, took away several feet at once, and another storm is expected this weekend.

Weiner’s morning meeting ended with calls for agencies to return “to the drawing board,” echoing a January meeting in which the congressman requested proposals from the agencies involved. Following that meeting, no plans were submitted other than the SB/PB proposal, which was virtually ignored.

Though skepticism was still palpable at Tuesday’s monthly civic meeting, Flynn and others held out hope that leaders were keen to the threat of further erosion.

“Hopefully this means no more phone calls where we hear ‘Don’t send that to us, it’s federal. Don’t send that to us, it’s state. Don’t send that to us, it’s city,” said Flynn.

Related posts:
Plumb Beach Destruction Goes Beyond Bike Path
Hurricane Ida Batters Plumb Beach
Midweek Photo: Bike Path Closed

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  • Well, we can whine or continue to do our jobs. I'm going with the latter.
  • Wow look the Daily News covered the issue, a week late and with no credit to sheepshead bites for covering it first...>_<...
  • Theresa Scavo
    Congressman Weiner called the meeting and his staff invited everyone they believed relevant. As for an open meeting, I can tell you that anyone walking or biking along the Plumb Beach area walked with us along the water shore and stayed for all the conversation. Thanks to the Congressman, this problem will be addressed and the finger pointing will stop. The RFP will be issued this Thursday by the Parks Department for the quick fix to save the Belt Parkway from flooding and the Congressman told each Agency to come up with permanent solutions in the near future. There was no mention of a follow-up meeting.
  • Andy
    "...more needs to be done to protect the beach and highway." - they make it sound as if something was ever done
  • Ray Johnson
    The Department of Transportation, Parks Department, National Parks Service, Community Board 15, and Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association were all meeting in Sheepshead Bay? Was this an open meeting? When is the followup meeting?
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