MacEachron Park Restoration (2019-present)

Superstorm Sandy and other intense weather events have made clear how vulnerable the Hastings Waterfront is to climate change and sea level rise. In 2019, the Village obtained a State grant to evaluate conditions on the Waterfront and create a restoration plan for the eroding shoreline at MacEachron Park.

Working with Mayor Armacost, the Village’s engineering consultant Mott MacDonald, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), we have created a plan to stabilize the shoreline and restore MacEachron Park—and leveraged this to obtain a $3 million commitment from BP/ARCO for the project.

Work has now been completed to stabilize the shoreline with coir logs and riprap. Ultimately, the park will be raised by 2 feet—the maximum DEC allowed for this project—to accommodate current estimations for rising sea levels.

A preliminary design has also been drafted, and a request for proposals is out for bid. The restored MacEachron Park will look and feel much the same as it is now, including preservation of the park’s native trees, but with a few improvements:

• Seasonal performance stage for summer concerts and events

• Water access and kayak launch at the park’s southwest corner

• Look-out point at the park’s northwest corner

• New playground

Small Changes, Big Potential: Our work on MacEachron Park serves as a case study for how we will approach the rest of the Hastings Waterfront. It has given us a more granular understanding of the site’s challenges and opportunities. We’ve also gained valuable expertise that will inform our ongoing negotiations with BP/ARCO and the other Waterfront property owners, as we seek to realize the potential of this incredible asset.

For more on this topic, see Issues: Our Waterfront here on my website.