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Watch Hill Marina At Fire Island National Seashore To Remain Closed Until 2018

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By NPT Staff - August 8th, 2017

The Watch Hill marina was damaged in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy/NPS, Mike Busch

The Watch Hill marina at Fire Island National Seashore in New York will remain closed until 2018 as the park has extended its construction project there to ensure that the marina is more resilient during storms like Hurricane Sandy, which damaged the area in 2012.

The park expects the project to address substructure vulnerabilities will be completed by the end of the year.

“The Watch Hill marina project was engineered to ensure the marina is safe and can withstand storms for years to come,” said Jim Dunphy, facility manager at Fire Island National Seashore. “With more time, unforeseen and necessary repairs to the substructure can be made so boaters and visitors can safely enjoy Watch Hill in the future.”

During construction, the marina is closed to ferry service and private boaters. The visitor center, bathrooms, lifeguarded beach, and tent campground remain closed until the marina reopens. Backcountry camping is accessible via Davis Park Ferry and points west.

Mr. Dunphy said the substructure repair schedule will include “supplementing girders and backfilling some areas of the bulkhead.” A new elevated electrical building has been constructed, and the existing conduit and conductors have been replaced. Upon completion of the substructure work, composite lumber decking and new pedestals will be installed on the marina boardwalks. Woodstock Construction LTD began work on the multimillion-dollar project in September 2016 to replace electrical and lighting systems, and the adjacent bulkhead and boardwalk.

Watch Hill is located on the western edge of the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, directly across the Great South Bay from Patchogue on Long Island. The Watch Hill Marina opened in 1967 and has 182 slips with 120- and 208-volt service, which accommodate boats with a draft to 5 feet and 8- to 17-foot beam. Of the 182 slips, there are 23 which accommodate 15- to 18-foot beams and offer 208-volt service.

Since Hurricane Sandy struck in October 2012, five recovery projects have been completed in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration at Fire Island National Seashore. The Watch Hill Marina project is the sixth such project and is funded in part by FHWA and NPS. Funding for the project was secured through Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Lands and the NPS-obligated funds through the Hurricane Sandy Relief Supplemental Aid and recreation fees.

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