New Rockaway Boardwalk will debut in its entirety on Memorial Day weekend

For the first time since Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012, Rockaway Boardwalk’s entire rebuilt 5.5 mile stretch from Beach 9th Street to Beach 126th street will be fully open to the public, beginning Memorial Day weekend. Mayor Bill de Blasio along with several local officials traveled to the Rockaways on Friday to tour the new boardwalk before it debuts next weekend.

“This is just another symbolic way of showing the strength of this community to overcome disasters and adversity,” said State Senator James Sanders Jr. “Just in time for summer, we have a beautiful boardwalk for all to enjoy as we head to the beach - for sun, sand, surf, good food and time with family.”

The newer, more resilient concrete promenade was constructed with materials that are far more resilient to harsh weather than the previous boardwalk. Sunken steel pilings coated in epoxy, anchored to thick concrete pads will ensure that the boardwalk will be able to face another Hurricane Sandy-like storm and it has been built above a retaining wall that’s designed to keep sand from being pushed into neighborhoods.

Coincidentally, the boardwalk’s full debut aligns with the city’s recently launched Rockaway ferry. The route runs from a new dock on Beach 108th Street to Brooklyn Army Terminal as well as to Pier 11 at Wall Street.

“This is going to be the Summer of the Rockaways. The millions who come to the boardwalk by bus, bike and ferry will see the Rockaways’ resilience and vibrancy in action,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The boardwalk is proof of our commitment to building back stronger and better.”

• Rockaway Boardwalk re-emerges with a new identity [Curbed]
• NYC’s new Rockaway ferries will launch ahead of schedule [Curbed]