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Thanks To Beach Erosion, Robert Moses State Park Only Partially Open
By
Jen Chung
Published May 26, 2012
Modified May 26, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 26, 2012
Modified May 26, 2012
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It's Memorial Day weekend, which means it's time to check out some beaches, but at Robert Moses State Park, officials are limiting visitors...because there's not much sand.
Over the past few years, erosion has left Field 5 in sad shape. Ronald Foley, of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said, "The majority of the beach is submerged at high tide." According to WCBS 2, "The beach looks pretty decent at times, but at high tide, the high water mark is just 10 steps from the boardwalk."
While in previous years, they would replenish sand from a stockpile, but ever since Army Corps of Engineers stopped dredging the Fire Island inlet, sand hasn't been replenished. The Army Corps of Engineers told WCBS 2, "We don’t have any current plans for dredging the inlet because we’re still waiting for funding from Congress.” Good luck!
Field 5 is open, but it's limited to visitors (there's only half the usual parking), so go there early. Many beachgoers are finding it too crowded. Field 4 has an erosion problem, too, but its parking hasn't been limited yet.
State Parks officials hope the beach can be fully reopened by July 4.
Tagged
beach erosion
long island
robert moses beach
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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