Orient State Park Reopens Saturday After Damage From Superstorm Sandy

Months after Superstorm Sandy ravaged North Fork shorelines, Orient State Park will reopen Saturday.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that Orient State Park would be ready for visitors after extensive repairs to damage called by Sandy's wrath.

“Here on Long Island, we are on track to reopen more than 30 state parks for Memorial Day weekend, as we continue to make tremendous progress in repairing damage to the parks’ roads, landscaping, infrastructure and beaches caused by Superstorm Sandy,” Cuomo said. “The timely reopening of these parks is especially important as the summer tourism season begins. And beginning Saturday, Long Island families and visitors can enjoy this popular destination at Orient Beach.” 

Sandy caused significant damage to the two-mile-long entrance road and Gardiners Bay shoreline, which sustained serious erosion; four sections of asphalt roadway were damaged. In addition, the buried utilities along the entrance drive were exposed, and all of the buildings in the park were flooded.
 
The storm surge and flooding also damaged or destroyed dozens of trees along the entrance drive and washed away a lifeguard shack and picnic tables from the beachfront. 

With the assistance of the New York State Department of Transportation, the entrance roadway has been rebuilt, and approximately 2,120 feet of the Orient Beach State Parkway has been repaved.

In addition, two areas of “rip rap” slopes were installed to protect the new roadway along the Gardiner’s Bay shoreline; rip rap slope protection is a layer of stone designed to protect and stabilize areas prone to erosion.

The extensive repairs also included the addition of 4,500 cubic yards of sand and gravel, with an eye toward establishing an 880-foot buffer to protect the park’s building complex. 

Also replaced were 360 feet of wirework containers, or Gabions, filled with rock, broken concrete and other materials along the shoreline at the park entrance just south of the toll booth.

The water treatment facility was restored, and all utilities were restored and elevated above the flood zones. The park's swimming beach was graded, hazardous trees were removed, and picnic tables were repaired and replaced.

“It has been inspirational to see the amount of work and commitment that has gone into reopening this popular state park over the last six months. Despite the great task, we knew it was vital not only to make sure Orient Beach was reopened before Memorial Day but all of our parks and beaches,” Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey said. “From the crews in the field to Commissioner Joan McDonald to the governor himself, this reopening is testament that teamwork is really the best way to tackle the toughest of challenges successfully.”

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner McDonald added: “Following the vast damage caused to Long Island by Superstorm Sandy, Governor Cuomo committed to quickly repairing the South Shore beaches and roads leading to them. Working together with Commissioner Harvey, we have helped achieve this goal for the families who live here, the vacationers who travel here and the businesses that rely on them.”

Orient Beach State Park will be open daily, year-round from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. 

On Saturday, the park will open for the first time since the October storm. Park visitors will see minor facility repairs underway, tree pruning, native vegetation replanting and landscaping work continuing during the season.