Senator Golden Announces First Phase Of Bike Path Renovation Complete

Martin J. Golden

Brooklyn- State Senator Marty Golden (R-C-I, 22nd District) today is announcing that the first part of the bike and pedestrian path rehabilitation project along Shore Road, from 92nd Street to the Verrazano Bridge, has been completed and is now open to the public for use. This stretch of the reconstruction was completed this past Friday, with the rest of the project, from 92nd Street to 69th Street, expected to be completed by early July.

Senator Golden stated, "A stretch of the bike and pedestrian path which has detoriated over the years has been returned to the people in stellar condition just in time for the start of summer. I applaud the Parks Department and the leadership of Commissioner Jules Spiegel that has insured that this project be completed right and on time. One of the most treasured aspects of Bay Ridge life has been renovated and we now look forward to the completion of the entirety of the project."

Golden continued, "We have restored the integrity of this portion of the bike path and we have insured the safety of all those who bike ride, jog and walk along the Narrows."

Craig A. Eaton, the Chairman of Community Board 10, stated that “Community Board 10 has made the seawall replacement a top priority for many years. I would like to thank State Senator Martin Golden, for fighting for our residents and securing $7 Million Dollars for the restoration of
the sea wall. The funds will go a long way toward refurbishing the new walkway and bike path which is used by all of our residents and will be a tremendous benefit to residents of CB 10 and all residents across Brooklyn.”

Senator Marty Golden, earlier this year, allocated $7 million dollars towards the completion of the renovation of the bike and pedestrian path. Marty Golden, as both a State Senator and a City Councilman, held numerous on site inspections with City officials, Community Board 10 and Congressman Vito Fossella, in an effort to bring attention to the dangerous conditions of the bike path, which led to an allocation of City emergency funding of $12 million for renovations of the bike path.

Furthermore, following an on-site meeting with then-Councilman Golden, the Parks Department allocated $750,000 in 2002 to fix the worst sinkholes on the northern-most section of the bike path. The City of New York declared the Shore Parkway Seawall reconstruction an emergency on June 15, 2005 and the work began on June 24, 2005. The work is scheduled to be completed by Spring/Summer 2006.

The Promenade Bike Path was constructed in the 1940's to complement the Belt Parkway. It loops almost entirely around the borough's shoreline and features bicycle and pedestrian path for about 13 miles along the waterfront. From Bay Ridge Avenue to the Verrazano Bridge, the greenway hosts a bicycle path and a separate but parallel pedestrian path.