A $16.2 million project started this week to extend the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway pedestrian and bicycle path 10 miles from Tobay Beach to Captree State Park, New York State officials said.
The project, which has been discussed for two decades, is the final leg of the shared-use path, which already runs 3.6 miles between Tobay Beach and Jones Beach State Park, where a new path that opened this spring runs the length of that park. It is slated to be completed in time for the summer of 2021.
“The Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway will provide cyclists, runners and walkers new opportunities to get outside while at the same time providing a new route for people to get to the many outdoor recreational activities the area has to offer,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
In addition to paving a path on the north side of the parkway, workers will also plant shrubs natural to the area along the route, install shaded rest stops every three miles, information panels highlighting local history, and bridges over existing pedestrian tunnels.
Like the first leg of the project, a cable guiderail will separate the Ocean Parkway from the Greenway to provide a barrier between traffic and pedestrians. New bicycle parking areas will be also installed at Gilgo Beach, Cedar Beach Marina, and Captree State Park.
The Ocean Parkway path links to the 5-mile Ellen Ferrant Memorial Bikeway along Wantagh State Parkway from Cedar Creek County Park that connects to mainland Long Island on the east end of Jones Beach Island. But as there is no pedestrian path along the Robert Moses Causeway bridges, there will be no way to access the path from the Suffolk County side of the Ocean Parkway path without first driving to Captree.
“We’ve been pedaling this idea for a number of years now and I’m proud to say the time has finally come,” said state Sen. John Brooks (D-Massapequa).
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