Rockaway Beach saw much of its boardwalk swept away in Superstorm Sandy. Instead of simply rebuilding, WXY saw an opportunity to elevate the boardwalk and the community's resilience through the Rockaway Boardwalk Reconstruction Plan. 

This plan, along with our Rockaway Parks Conceptual Plan and the Rockaway Dune Enhancement Plan, created a unique, holistic strategy for resiliency and community planning that relies on engagement with the people who live in the area.  

Extreme weather revealed the boardwalk's vulnerability, highlighting the need for a design to endure future storms while strengthening the area's culture and economy. The goal was to create a resilient, multi-use public space that could serve as the community's heart. Achieving this required navigating federal recovery funding, addressing environmental concerns, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and securing community support. 

Our design replaces the traditional wooden planks with concrete. It situates the boardwalk well over the 100-year flood plain, placing it between planted dunes that will stabilize and replenish new beach infill. Sand-colored concrete planks, cast in a wave-like pattern and speckled with tumbled glass, evoke the coastline, while blue concrete sections spell out "ROCKAWAY," creating a sign and bold visual marker visible from the plane as it lands at JFK Airport.   

New, ADA-compliant access points enhance accessibility and circulation with straight ramps reinforced with recycled glass aggregate connecting to the landside and curved ramps and decks made from plastic lumber to the oceanside. These additions integrate with an updated wayfinding system, making navigation more accessible for all visitors.   

Our commitment to sustainability extends to repurposed wood planks from the former boardwalk that we transformed into new furniture and seating. A key improvement is the continuous bike path, which allows cyclists to travel the entire length of the Rockaways without interacting with cars or traffic lights. This comprehensive kit-of-parts approach enhances accessibility while providing greater protection and connectivity for the boardwalk's beachfront neighborhoods. 

We brought in multiple stakeholders, from people in the neighborhood to public agencies to design professionals. We had conversations. We listened closely. We even gave demonstrations. A popular concern was the shift from wood to concrete as the main material for the boardwalk. So, we brought in concrete samples for residents to take their shoes off and walk on.  

Our process informed our focus on empowering the youth in the area through a partnership with Shore Corps, bringing educational and economic opportunities with the Rockaway Dune Enhancement Plan. And we heard that the design couldn't be another "New York City sidewalk." It had to work from both the ground and the sky.   

Our reconstruction of the Rockaway Boardwalk has created a public space that is sustainable, resilient, and rooted in community. The design reflects the vision of both local stakeholders and residents. 

Since the post-Sandy redevelopment, Rockaway’s beaches have become an increasingly popular destination. Millions of New Yorkers and tourists visit each year, helping drive economic growth for the neighborhood. 

The boardwalk remains a social and economic lifeline for the community and now also serves as a vital mobility corridor, thanks to its continuous bike path.