U.S. Congressman José E. Serrano ~ Representing the people of the 16th District of New York

Serrano, Crowley, Benepe Break Ground on Orchard Beach Restoration Project with Corps of Engineers

(Bronx, NY) – On Friday, Representatives José E. Serrano (D-The Bronx) and Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, The Bronx) joined NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Army Corps of Engineers NY District Commander Colonel John R. Boulé in breaking ground on a large restoration project at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. The $13 million project, which was jointly funded by $7 million in federal money obtained by Serrano and Crowley and $6 million from NYC Parks, will focus on the restoration of beach sand and anti-erosion infrastructure. The project will be carried out over the coming months by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“The people of the Bronx will soon have a restored, functional and expansive Orchard Beach, as it was envisioned by its creators decades ago, when it was called the Riviera of the Bronx,” said Congressman Serrano, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “With the funds that my friend Joe Crowley and I were able to secure over the years, our partnership with NYC Parks, and the Corps of Engineers hard work, we can now be sure that Orchard Beach will be restored to its former glory. The Bronx has always been underserved when it comes to recreation opportunities, but we are turning that around one project at a time. I look forward to using the new, refurbished Orchard Beach in coming summers alongside other Bronxites. ”

“Today marks an exciting first step to expand and replenish Orchard Beach’s shores – opening access to this popular beach and preserving it for generations to come,” said Rep. Crowley. “After years of severe erosion, Orchard Beach is in dire need of restoration to transform it back to the treasure it once was. That is why my good friend José Serrano and I made securing funds for this project a priority. Together, with NYC Parks and the Corps of Engineers, we will ensure Bronx residents have a beautiful beach right in their backyard that can be enjoyed for years to come.”

“Parks is pleased to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to replenish sand and restore the shoreline at Orchard Beach, known as the 'Riviera of the Bronx,'" said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "This WPA-era, man-made beach was last nourished with sand in 1964. Over time, the beach has lost sand naturally due to tides, winds, waves and storms. We are grateful to the U.S. Army Corps, Congressman José E. Serrano and Congressman Crowley for their support. We applaud their commitment to join us in preserving and protecting Orchard Beach, and helping ensure that this treasured gem can continue to be enjoyed by future generations of New Yorkers.”

“This project represents an outstanding investment of public dollars to provide the great people of the Bronx with a first-class recreational beach in these tough economic times,” said New York District Commander Col. John R. Boulé. “We're excited to be partnering with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to restore Orchard Beach.”

The shoreline protection project will result in the replacement of the sand that has been lost over time and also help to prevent future erosion. In addition, the project will address the “drop-off zones” that represent a real danger to swimmers at Orchard Beach. The project is scheduled to replace more than 250,000 cubic yards of new sand and be completed before next summer in time for use by the more than one million annual patrons.

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