Fall Semester Update

Throughout the fall semester, significant progress was made in data collection, site analysis, and the development of design solutions for Broad Channel American Park in Queens, New York. The project site is located within a low-lying, flood-prone area of Jamaica Bay and features deteriorated recreational facilities, insufficient multimodal access, and flooding of the shared parking lot by both Broad Channel American Park and the adjacent Sunset Cove Park boardwalk. A site visit was conducted to assess public use and to observe vehicular access. Subsurface investigations identified three soil strata, including a 4-foot peat layer and shallow groundwater approximately 2.5 feet below the ground surface. Additionally, a traffic count at Cross Bay Boulevard and West 20th Road recorded a peak flow of 369 vehicles at 7:45am, underscoring the need for safer site access and circulation.

Each alternative design solution proposed a range of improvements to enhance the functionality and resilience of the park. The designs aim to address flooding up to 5 feet and incorporate safer intersection geometry at Cross Bay Boulevard and West 20th Road. They also focus on improving pedestrian and bicycle mobility throughout the site. Shoreline stability would be enhanced through the installation of a bulkhead and a fishing pier along the waterfront. In addition, all three alternatives include a dog park and a public facility building with restrooms and water stations to better support visitor needs.

For the first alternative, the existing parking lot is expanded to accommodate increased visitation, while maintaining the current arrangement of sports fields to minimize construction costs and disruptions. New multimodal pathways are introduced to improve access from Cross Bay Boulevard, and a central green space with a dog park encourages greater community use and passive recreation. These improvements enhance circulation while preserving the existing layout wherever feasible.

An image of the first design alternative for the redesign of Broad Channel American Park. A proposed bulkhead and pier are depicted in red and blue callouts in the southern end of the image. A proposed redesigned intersection is called out in orange in the eastern side of the image, connected to proposed parking and bike lots and pedestrian paths in pink callouts in the middle of the image. There is a public facilities building proposed with a blue callout in the center of the image near the dog park and green space called out in yellow and green, respectively.
Alternative 1

For the second design alternative, Broad Channel American Park and Sunset Cove Park are integrated into a unified recreational space. The parking lot is relocated to the northeast section of the site to reduce flood vulnerability and improve operational reliability. A 0.75-mile walking loop is shown extending around the combined park area, with benches and landscaping supporting year-round public activity. Two bulkheads strengthen shoreline protection along both waterfront edges and allow for a southern fishing pier for controlled water-based recreation.

An image of the second design alternative for the redesign of Broad Channel American Park. A proposed bulkhead and pier are depicted in red and blue callouts in the southern end of the image. An additional bulkhead is located in the northwestern corner of the image, called out in red. A proposed redesigned intersection and parking lot is called out in orange in the eastern side of the image. The proposed bike lots and pedestrian paths called out in pink are located in the center of the image, looping around the proposed green space on the majority of the image. There is a public facilities building proposed with a blue callout in the northeast corner of the image near the proposed parking lot. A dog park is proposed in yellow in the northern part of the image.
Alternative 2

The third alternative introduces a semi-permeable multipurpose event space near the southern shoreline, providing flexible community programming while allowing temporary stormwater storage during flood conditions. One existing baseball field is rehabilitated to maintain active recreation in a reduced but functional footprint. The parking lot will be expanded and regraded to address a 10-year storm event and support increased visitor demand. Enhanced multimodal connections improve safety and accessibility between Cross Bay Boulevard and the key ammenities across the park.

An image of the third design alternative for the redesign of Broad Channel American Park. A proposed bulkhead and pier are depicted in red and blue callouts in the southern end of the image. A proposed redesigned intersection is called out in orange in the eastern side of the image, connected to proposed parking and bike lots and pedestrian paths in pink callouts in the middle of the image. There is a public facilities building proposed with a blue callout in the center of the image near the semi pervious event space called out in gray. A large dog park is called out in yellow and there is a cutout in the green space highlighting the existing baseball field that will be refurbished.
Alternative 3

Based on community needs, improved accessibility, reduced disturbance to wetlands, and enhanced shoreline resilience, Alternative Design 3 was selected as the optimal solution. This alternative best supports flexible recreation, safe multimodal access, and resilient flood management while preserving important aspects of the existing park. The total engineering cost for the fall semester was $42,000, with an estimated $34,500 required to complete the work planned for the spring semester.

The team concluded the semester with a final fall presentation of engineering services, which can be accessed through the link below:

Redevelopment of Broad Channel American Park Final Fall Presentation