Ice Boom Beach
Now that there are negotiations in the works to free up waterfront property surrounding the Coast Guard, maybe it’s time to look (harder) at another property that continues to elude us. It’s the sprawling beach located in-between the Outer Harbor nature trail and Times Beach Nature Preserve. This is where the ice boom is stored – a parcel of property that becomes more and more attractive every day.
There have been talks about moving the ice boom in the past. The best part about the idea (in my eyes) is that the property is already to go for a second use. It’s a natural beach tucked between two outcrops that protect is from the weather. It’s actually an idyllic setting other than the monster-sized floating boom that looks like a bunch of torpedoes washed ashore. I asked around a bit to see what sort of alternative locations had been proposed and received answers ranging from floating barge recovery to sites at Bethlehem Steel.
If this property was ever freed up for public use, an idea could be to claim the rear of the property as an extension of Times Beach Nature Preserve. It would be easy enough to add a boardwalk trail through the middle of that addition that would lead beach-goers to the water’s edge. That would entail letting natural growth to take hold while adding a boardwalk. And, of course, removing the ice boom to a less desirable location. I would imagine that the benefit of doing this would certainly outweigh the cost and effort.
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Comment Options
lizzyb
Let Canada have custody of it for oh I don't know.... the next 20 years. Let them do some work. Must Buffalo be the gate keeper for all time?
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KenS
QE...What negotiations are underway to get the Coast Guard out of their current location? This is one of those things that keeps getting talked about, but never seems to happen.
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buffawakening
I agree with lizzyb. this story makes me think though, lets do somthing about it! lets do somthing about all of these stories on BRO. now dont get me wrong, i love buffalo rising, and have great respect for its contributers, it is a great site to bring great things in buffalo to light as well as some not so great things that can be fixed. but is anyone here fixing them? and if someone is or wants to, let me know how to help! :)
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BackInBuffalo
hmm, if only this monstrosity floated - we could just strap it to the far side of the break wall...
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mepolo
Why would you want to move the Coast Guard? That's like saying you want to move a police station because you'd rather put a park there...forget protection..... The Coast Guard station is in a great centralized location....making it pretty easy to go either north up the river or south very quickly.
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WCPerspective
The ice boom may be stored on a property on Smith Street. Supposedly.
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RaChaCha
This looks like it would also be a great location for launching human-powered watercraft - especially for group instruction situations - since the potential launching area is so wide, and some of the current crushed-stone area could be used for parking. From this location, people could launch either into the lake (and very near the lighthouse as a landmark, and the Coast Guard for emergencies), or into the completely protected area just to the north (for more sheltered practice). From the same parking area, a short portage across Fuhrmann Blvd. could even allow access into the Buffalo River. This could be a valuable access point for those who want to explore, under their own power, the water around the lighthouse, coast guard station, Times Beach, and the Buffalo River mouth.
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paragon
mepolo, the coast guard is not a police precinct. They patrol the water not the land. There is no public advantage to them being there. The light house is not open to the public because the coast guard is there. The coast guard should be moved to the deep water slip on the Bethlehem site that has been proposed in the past and free up this land for a park and residential/commercial development.
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sweeper
I agree paragon. Everyone on here always seems to want every existing foot of waterfront to be turned into a park or bike path, and moving the Coast Guard a couple miles down the shore sounds like an ideal plan for premium waterfront property. That is much more feasible than something completely silly like moving I-190 inland (the idea isn't silly, just any sort of thought that it would ever happen - but that is a completely different discussion).
Think about the possibilities. If Erie St. has a lift bridge put in, that land instantly becomes about as desireable as possible. Hell on earth in the winter, but probably the sweetest spot imaginable in the summer.
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xosder
The Coast Guard has no business where they are. They can do their job (hounding boaters with guns drawn for importing toilets with 2 gpm additional per flush from Canada) from several less dramatic places along the waterfront. The entrance to the Buffalo River should have public access on land from both sides. Additionally, this will be an immediate pedestrian/bike link from Erie Basin to the outer harbor once the bridge is built.
The ice boom can easily be stored up the Bflo River on numerous abandoned properties. They (NYPA) seem to have stopped looking. They are available.
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300miles
I wouldn't be so negative on the coast guard. Most buffalonians didn't give a rat's ass about this property until a few years ago. And the coast guard has already stated that they have too much land and don't even want it. They are looking to reduce their footprint and give the rest back to the city.
But guess what... these things don't happen overnight. And what's the rush anyway? Is LaSalle park already fixed? No. Is the outer harbor already developed? No. Is the Inner Harbor Canalzone already done? No. You get my point? Put things in motion and push for the right solution, but don't sit back and whine when your idea doesn't happen immediately.
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MB76
As global warming pushes us into an ice age, the boom will have to be in all year. Problem solved.
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MB76
As global warming pushes us into an ice age, the boom will have to be in all year. Problem solved.
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lizzyb
Hey look how fast the beach at the Erie Basin Marina got done. Make a breakwall with the rocks and make a proper beach. A works project. A beach that stretches all the way down to the Hatch. Oh sorry I digress....move the boom to Canada eh.
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Blake
The ice boom is absolutely moving, it's proving to be hard to find a place, it's giant. It can't be floated all year because it needs to be repaired in the summer when it's not being used.
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magnum
Right on! If you want a swimmable beach, it has to be up stream from the Buffalo river to avoid the pollution(check) and it has to be behind a breakerwall to prevent erosion(check) and it has to be accessible to the public and close to the city(check). No brainer, put a beach here.
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mepolo
@paragon - thank you....I agree with you, the deep water slip near Bethleham is a great place for it to be...the clarification is much appreciated! As for the purpose of the Coast Guard..it does go beyond patrolling the waters for what would seem to be minor infractions....every year there are many search & rescue events that take place on Lake Erie.....it's great to know the Coast Guard is always there to lend a hand! @magnum....another reason a swimmable beach would need to be behind a breakwall in the city area is because of the proximity to the Niagara river...from what I understand, the undertow is pretty mighty. A breakwall isn't going to help erosion that much...if the lake wants to cause some damage, it will....just look at what happened last week at the Small Boat Harbor.
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rydog71
Leave the Coast Guard alone. Anyone who belittles them really has know idea what they do on a daily basis. Most boaters and police agencies feel that their presence isn't large enough for the area they cover with the major burden of protecting our waterways left to fire departments, border patrol and the local police.
Why do they have to move. They want to reduce their space and that should be enough. If anything incorporate them into the outer harbor. They have a history of their own that should be celebrated. Also why would they need a deep water slip? They don't have a cruiser, only small boats which are faster and better for patrolling our shallow river and lake. Plus one buoy boat which is also fairly small.
You certainly don't hear the folks in Niagara County complaining that the Coast Guard station is inside their State Park. Only in Buffalo do you find such ignorance. It's bad enough when politician are clueless but when the citizen they govern don't have a clue you can't blame them.
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onestarmartin
people who belittle the coast guard are pretty ignorant and none boaters, they help many boats in distress daily as we have witnessed when out on the water, the responce time they have is incredable. Nor have I ever seen them harrass people other than those who seem to be trashed while on the water and are a liability to other boaters and themselves.
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KenS
All I am suggesting is to move the Coast Guard to the south by a few miles at most. It won't impact their ability to do search and rescues or anything else they do on a daily basis(unless they like admiring the lighthouse, which is something the general public CAN'T DO).
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sweeper
I don't think anyone is bashing what the Coast Guard does, all anyone is saying there's no reason they couldn't do it from a station located somewhere else on the shore. Besides, if a new station were to be built, I'd think they would welcome new facilities for themselves.
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