Politics & Government

Governor Awards $750K For Dam Reconstruction, Boat Access in Riverhead

Long Island received a lion's share of state funding for outdoor recreational improvements announced Monday by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Boaters hoping to access the Peconic River on Edwards Avenue will soon be able to launch.

In recognition of Great Outdoors Month, on Monday, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director Peter Scully announced over $950,000 in recreation improvement projects funded by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York Works II program, and the Environmental Protection Fund, to expand and improve access for recreational activities on public lands in Suffolk County.

Approximately $750,000 of the funds will be used for Peconic River dam reconstruction in Riverhead -- for a canoe slide and enhanced boat access on Edwards Avenue.

In addition, approximately $200,000 of those funds will be used to design a Southold boat ramp site on the now-shuttered Old Barge restaurant parcel in Southold.

Scully and other DEC reps announced the funding at the 3.2 acre, waterfront Southold parcel, where a public boat ramp, a wash-down station, and a canoe and kayak launch is slated for design and construction.

The purchase of the Southold parcel was funded with a a Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as a donation from the owners of the parcel, the Reiter family, who sold the property to the state at below the fair market value of $2 million.

"Without their donation, this acquisition could not have come about," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. 

"The sale to the state aligns well with our parents' core values," said Carol Denson, manager of the property for the Reiter family. "The creation of a site on the Peconic Bay which makes our precious natural resources accessible to the public captures the longstanding marine culture of this community."

She added that the family was inspired to sell the parcel after seeing the DEC's ADA accessible --which the new boat ramp will also be -- boat ramp in Mattituck.

Creating waterfront recreational activities, Scully said, is key to tourism and job promotion in Riverhead and other areas.

On Monday, Cuomo announced over $17 million in outdoor recreation improvements that will commence across New York State this summer.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here