A sandy beach at the Buffalo Outer Harbor is no longer a pipe dream. Yesterday crews were busy constructing a demonstration project that will convert a long-underused parcel of waterfront property at Gallagher Beach into a public destination (one foot thick, 100 feet wide by 150 feet long).
Along with the Gallagher Beach parcel, owned by the NFTA, there is also another beach project underway. The second property is located near Times Beach Nature Preserve, and is owned by the ECHDC. That latter project is where the ice boom was stored for far too long. "It is our hope that as a result of the sand sustainable study, we will be able to begin the next steps, including water testing and other regulatory reviews, towards the creation of the first public beach within city limits," said Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Chairman Robert Gioia. "Public access continues to be a priority for Governor Cuomo and ECHDC and with water being our region's most valuable asset, we must better leverage this strength to spur future growth on the waterfront and encourage additional private investment."
The $300,000 being used to construct the beaches is made possible through funding from the New York Power Authority Relicensing Agreement.
Photo: Eric L. Mihelbergel
For $300k you would think that would cover the cost of sand for the whole beach area.