Work will begin soon on the $6.3 million
Lake George Beach Improvement Project
to improve water quality protections and
increase recreational access to the lake, according
to New York state officials who are
funding the project.
The project includes repaving the beach
parking lot, installing infrastructure to better
manage stormwater, rerouting Beach
Road and constructing a boat launch on the
eastern end of the beach with a nearby boat
washing station.
NY Works and state Department of Environmental
Conservation capital funds will
pay for the project.
“The Lake George Beach has been a
popular and important attraction for the area
since it was first built in 1955,” said Village of
Lake George Mayor Robert Blais said. “These
improvements will ensure a viable tourism
economy for Lake George that continues into
the future. I particularly pleased with the
new boat launch and the increased access it
will provide for boaters and anglers.”
Officials said a boat launch with the capacity
for 26 boats will be built on the east side of
Lake George Beach and will have significant
operational and structural improvements.
The launch, which will replace the existing
one on the west side of the beach, will
operate throughout the boating season and
provide needed distance from the bathing
area and local residences.
Larger boats will be able to use the new
location as access will no longer be through the tunnel under Beach Road. A boat washing
station will be constructed within the car and
trailer parking area to prevent the spread of
aquatic invasive species.
Additional improvements to the boating
site include:
• Safer configuration of walkways and
roads with the road rerouted around the
facility.
• A roundabout at the western end of the
parking lot providing entrance to the beach
parking area.
• A new multiuse path through the facility,
so bikers and walkers can utilize the whole
distance along the south end of the lake.
• Paving the overflow and boat launch
parking lots with asphalt.
• Easier and safer access for people with
disabilities.
The beach and the boat launch are scheduled
to be open to the public by Memorial Day
Weekend in 2015.
Officials said improvements to the
348-space parking lot will include use of a
porous asphalt system in much of the area,
which will protect water quality on the milelong
stretch of road on the southern shoreline.
Stormwater management infrastructure
will complement the work already done on
Beach Road during the first two phases of
the project.
“Lake George is an iconic New York landmark
and a major driver of tourism in the
region,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “These improvements will protect one of New York’s
most beautiful natural features and one of
Upstate’s most popular attractions, while also
making it more accessible to all.”
In 2013, the state Department of Transportation,
Warren County Department of
Public Works and the Town of Lake George
completed rebuilding of two sections of road
on either side of the Department of Environmental
Conservation’s Lake George Beach
facility using porous asphalt and installing
stormwater management infrastructure. The
Department of Environmental Conservation
completed the same rebuilding effort in 2014
on the section of the road it maintains.
According to state officials, the new road
and parking lot systems decrease the amount
of sedimentation and the pollutants attached
to them, decrease the amount of salt and
sand needed to keep the roads safe during
winter weather and significantly decreases
the frequency and depth of flooding of the
road and parking lots.
“The new boat launch location will lead
to a safer and more enjoyable experience,”
said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “DEC
worked in partnership with local officials to
develop the project that is most beneficial to
the community, visitors and water quality.”
State Sen. Betty Little of Glens Falls
said, the project “is about improved access,
aesthetics, safety and, most importantly, the water quality of Lake George. It’s a
great collaboration among state and local
officials and the community members most
concerned about the long-term health of the
lake’s ecosystem.”
Supervisor of the Town of Lake George
Dennis Dickinson said the project “will be a
great asset to the Lake George region. Working
with Regional Director Bob Stegeman
and the DEC staff was very rewarding. We
all look forward to completion of the project
and many years of pleasure it will provide.”
Chairman of the Warren County Board of
Supervisors Kevin Geraghty said, “Warren
County is pleased to see the investment made
by New York state to the Million Dollar Beach.
These improvements will enhance the area
and make our visitor’s experience better. This
is all done while continuing to watch out for
the health of the lake.”
Lake George Association Executive Director
Walt Lender said the addition of porous
pavement and better stormwater management
infrastructure for Million Dollar Beach
“is an enormous benefit to Lake George’s
water quality. This, along with an adjacent
Warren County roadway project, is a great
demonstration project for properly dealing
with a large paved area near the Lake.
We’re very excited that New York state has
decided to invest in this project to protect
Lake George.”