The long-awaited Morgan’s Dock Park is now officially open to the public.
Manorhaven village officials held a grand opening Saturday for the park, which has been in the works for several years and through a number of village administrations.
The revitalized park located at the end of Orchard Beach Road in Manorhaven now includes amenities such as new benches and a sidewalk, a gazebo and a refurbished dock.
Mayor Jim Avena said the project was commissioned by former Mayor Nicholas Capozzi in 2006 and when Trustee Rita Di Lucia was elected in 2008, “she eagerly took the lead and worked with that administration to get the project moving forward again.”
Di Lucia, who cut the ribbon, said she first ran for trustee with the mission to save the waterfront on Manhasset Isle. She said after that project was complete, she shifted her focus to Morgan’s Dock after she found it had been abandoned.
Morgan’s Dock Park is the former Ben Morgan’s Old Ferry Dock which was used for ferries departing for Manhattan until the Triborough Bridge was constructed in 1936.
“With each new administration, the project had always been tough but with my consistency and direction, I was always able to revise, correct and move forward,” she said.
The once dilapidated, uninhabitable piece of land is now a place to boat, fish, relax and enjoy the view, Di Lucia said.
“And I was told last night that the kids from the prom came and took pictures here,” she said.
The trustee thanked the many people who supported her throughout this project and singled out village Clerk Sharon Abramski whom she described as her “right hand” on the project.
“Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on the community working together,” Di Lucia said. “To all the residents of Manorhaven and of course everybody from Port Washington, I am just going to say thank you and thank you for being here on this glorious day and the occasion that is so dear to my heart.”
The project was mainly funded through the Nassau County Community Development Block Grant Program, Avena said, and the various phases of construction were conducted by Bancker Construction Corp., Cameron Engineering and Associates, Cashin Associates, Grace Industries LLC, Chesterfield Associates, Coastal Construction and the Port Washington Water District.
The mayor said Trustee John Popeleski, who was in attendance, assisted in hooking up the water lines for the park “which wasn’t an easy task.”
The grand opening ceremony was attended by Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson, North Hempstead Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, North Hempstead Town Clerk Wayne Wink, Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso (D-Port Washington) and Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove).
The park is open for public use from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Overnight docking and parking is prohibited.
