Work will begin soon on the $6.3 million
\nLake George Beach Improvement Project
\nto improve water quality protections and
\nincrease recreational access to the lake, according
\nto New York state officials who are
\nfunding the project.<\/p>\n
The project includes repaving the beach
\nparking lot, installing infrastructure to better
\nmanage stormwater, rerouting Beach
\nRoad and constructing a boat launch on the
\neastern end of the beach with a nearby boat
\nwashing station.<\/p>\n
NY Works and state Department of Environmental
\nConservation capital funds will
\npay for the project.
\n“The Lake George Beach has been a
\npopular and important attraction for the area
\nsince it was first built in 1955,” said Village of
\nLake George Mayor Robert Blais said. “These
\nimprovements will ensure a viable tourism
\neconomy for Lake George that continues into
\nthe future. I particularly pleased with the
\nnew boat launch and the increased access it
\nwill provide for boaters and anglers.”<\/p>\n
Officials said a boat launch with the capacity
\nfor 26 boats will be built on the east side of
\nLake George Beach and will have significant
\noperational and structural improvements.
\nThe launch, which will replace the existing
\none on the west side of the beach, will
\noperate throughout the boating season and
\nprovide needed distance from the bathing
\narea and local residences.<\/p>\n
Larger boats will be able to use the new
\nlocation as access will no longer be through the tunnel under Beach Road. A boat washing
\nstation will be constructed within the car and
\ntrailer parking area to prevent the spread of
\naquatic invasive species.<\/p>\n
Additional improvements to the boating
\nsite include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Safer configuration of walkways and
\nroads with the road rerouted around the
\nfacility.<\/p>\n
\u2022 A roundabout at the western end of the
\nparking lot providing entrance to the beach
\nparking area.<\/p>\n
\u2022 A new multiuse path through the facility,
\nso bikers and walkers can utilize the whole
\ndistance along the south end of the lake.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paving the overflow and boat launch
\nparking lots with asphalt.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Easier and safer access for people with
\ndisabilities.<\/p>\n
The beach and the boat launch are scheduled
\nto be open to the public by Memorial Day
\nWeekend in 2015.<\/p>\n
Officials said improvements to the
\n348-space parking lot will include use of a
\nporous asphalt system in much of the area,
\nwhich will protect water quality on the milelong
\nstretch of road on the southern shoreline.
\nStormwater management infrastructure
\nwill complement the work already done on
\nBeach Road during the first two phases of
\nthe project.<\/p>\n
“Lake George is an iconic New York landmark
\nand a major driver of tourism in the
\nregion,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “These improvements will protect one of New York’s
\nmost beautiful natural features and one of
\nUpstate’s most popular attractions, while also
\nmaking it more accessible to all.”<\/p>\n
In 2013, the state Department of Transportation,
\nWarren County Department of
\nPublic Works and the Town of Lake George
\ncompleted rebuilding of two sections of road
\non either side of the Department of Environmental
\nConservation’s Lake George Beach
\nfacility using porous asphalt and installing
\nstormwater management infrastructure. The
\nDepartment of Environmental Conservation
\ncompleted the same rebuilding effort in 2014
\non the section of the road it maintains.<\/p>\n
According to state officials, the new road
\nand parking lot systems decrease the amount
\nof sedimentation and the pollutants attached
\nto them, decrease the amount of salt and
\nsand needed to keep the roads safe during
\nwinter weather and significantly decreases
\nthe frequency and depth of flooding of the
\nroad and parking lots.<\/p>\n
“The new boat launch location will lead
\nto a safer and more enjoyable experience,”
\nsaid DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “DEC
\nworked in partnership with local officials to
\ndevelop the project that is most beneficial to
\nthe community, visitors and water quality.”<\/p>\n
State Sen. Betty Little of Glens Falls
\nsaid, the project “is about improved access,
\naesthetics, safety and, most importantly, the water quality of Lake George. It’s a
\ngreat collaboration among state and local
\nofficials and the community members most
\nconcerned about the long-term health of the
\nlake’s ecosystem.”<\/p>\n
Supervisor of the Town of Lake George
\nDennis Dickinson said the project “will be a
\ngreat asset to the Lake George region. Working
\nwith Regional Director Bob Stegeman
\nand the DEC staff was very rewarding. We
\nall look forward to completion of the project
\nand many years of pleasure it will provide.”<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Warren County Board of
\nSupervisors Kevin Geraghty said, “Warren
\nCounty is pleased to see the investment made
\nby New York state to the Million Dollar Beach.
\nThese improvements will enhance the area
\nand make our visitor’s experience better. This
\nis all done while continuing to watch out for
\nthe health of the lake.”<\/p>\n
Lake George Association Executive Director
\nWalt Lender said the addition of porous
\npavement and better stormwater management
\ninfrastructure for Million Dollar Beach
\n“is an enormous benefit to Lake George’s
\nwater quality. This, along with an adjacent
\nWarren County roadway project, is a great
\ndemonstration project for properly dealing
\nwith a large paved area near the Lake.<\/p>\n
We’re very excited that New York state has
\ndecided to invest in this project to protect
\nLake George.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[66,103],"yoast_head":"\r\n