Town of Hempstead replacing Newbridge Park bulkhead

In recent months, folks who have stopped off at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore might have noticed the cranes and trucks behind a chain-link fence on the east side of the park. That is where the Town of Hempstead is installing a completely new bulkhead along a canal that flows south to East Bay.

The existing bulkhead, a retaining wall designed to prevent erosion that stretches about 1,000 feet, needs to be replaced to keep the park’s waterway clean, safe and navigable, town officials said.

Town Supervisor Kate Murray said that local leaders are excited to see that reconstruction of the bulkhead has begun, noting that she and Town Councilwoman Angie Cullin, a Republican from Freeport, called for the project to get started.

“[She] and I directed our Conservation and Waterways Department to begin this project to maintain our infrastructure, preserve safety for boaters and people who walk along the shore,” Murray said. “An attractive and well-maintained shoreline helps to support area home values.”

Michael Deery, the town’s communications director, said that all of the components of the bulkhead, which preserves park land and keeps the channel navigable, are being restored. Storm drains along the creek are also being replaced, he said.

In the month and a half since the project began, Deery said, more than 200 feet of bulkhead and two storm drains have been replaced. He added that as far as he knows, the last time the bulkhead was restored was in the early 1960s.

“That makes it close to 50 years old,” he said. “Depending on the quality of the construction, some of them do last. When you have an ailing bulkhead, soil can erode into the water.”

Bellmore residents with homes along the creek said they already see differences between the old and new bulkheads. Sal Lanzafame, whose home is on the opposite side of the canal from the project site, said he has not seen this much construction in the 14 years he has lived on the creek.

“The old bulkhead has a rustic look, but the new one looks far superior,” Lanzafame said. “The other looked kind of old and was getting deteriorated.”