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Beachwalk A Boon to North Beach Living

Acting as both a buffer and bridge between the sand and the city, the Beachwalk has proved to be a welcome and increasingly popular addition to the neighborhood - bringing the beauty of the oceanfront

Acting as both a buffer and bridge between the sand and the city, the Beachwalk has proved to be a welcome and increasingly popular addition to the neighborhood – bringing the beauty of the oceanfront to the residents.

The mile-long paved path from 64th Street, at Allison Park, to 79th Street, took twelve years of lobbying, planning and construction. It finally officially opened in October of 2009, bringing the type of amenity to North Beach that has long been enjoyed by residents and visitors in both mid-Beach and South Beach.

The strip of land formerly just crossed to get to the ocean today attracts strollers, joggers, skaters and bike riders from before sunrise to well past dark.  City contracted security personnel regularly cruise the Beachwalk on bicycles, bringing additional security for users.

The sandy paths that were replaced had limited accessibility. The paved path easily accommodates wheelchairs as well as strollers and carriages, making it especially popular for families with young children.

The subdued lighting along the Beachwalk, including the stretch of sidewalk along Ocean Terrace, is designed to be environmentally friendly to the turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches. The city project also involved putting in plantings on both sides of the path, from sea oats and grasses that help maintain dunes and prevent erosion to native flowering species.

Longer-term city plans call for extending the walkway South that would connect with the planned paved walkway that will eventually replace the wooden boardwalk in mid-Beach.

The newly constructed Beachwalk ends at 79th St but users can head west – a path now covered with wheel-friendly mesh – to use the paths inside North Shore Open Space Park. More ambitious walkers, runners and bike riders can navigate the sandy beachside path in Surfside and continue north into Bal Harbor, as far as the pier overlooking Haulover Cut, all without dealing with automobile traffic on busy city streets.

For those residents that have not yet taken a stroll on the Beachwalk, there’s no better time than the present.

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10 COMMENTS
  • Christina Farnsworth June 19, 2010

    I love the boardwalk, and am very grateful for all the careful planning and implementation that went into creating this gift to the neighborhood and community. However, I would feel better as a property-tax paying resident if someone could succeed at timing the lights so that they go off with daybreak. Seems to me we are wasting both financial and energy resources needlessly by lighting the boardwalk in daylight. I know a neighbor who also lives on the boardwalk who has made several attempts to achieve this through contacting the city, without success. He and I would really appreciate this concern being addressed. Thanks for listening, and I will hope to see a response with lights out soon.

  • Christina Farnsworth June 19, 2010

    I love the boardwalk, and am very grateful for all the careful planning and implementation that went into creating this gift to the neighborhood and community. However, I would feel better as a property-tax paying resident if someone could succeed at timing the lights so that they go off with daybreak. Seems to me we are wasting both financial and energy resources needlessly by lighting the boardwalk in daylight. I know a neighbor who also lives on the boardwalk who has made several attempts to achieve this through contacting the city, without success. He and I would really appreciate this concern being addressed. Thanks for listening, and I will hope to see a response with lights out soon.

  • daniel June 21, 2010

    Christina, thank you for your note on the timing of the lights. The city department responsible for the lights is Public Works, Attn: Mike Alvarez. I have sent them an email asking them to adjust the time the lights turn on and off. I will let you know if I receive a response on it. In the meantime, please let me know if you see any changes to the time the lights turn on and off. Thank you.

  • daniel June 21, 2010

    Christina, thank you for your note on the timing of the lights. The city department responsible for the lights is Public Works, Attn: Mike Alvarez. I have sent them an email asking them to adjust the time the lights turn on and off. I will let you know if I receive a response on it. In the meantime, please let me know if you see any changes to the time the lights turn on and off. Thank you.

  • Randall Robinson June 21, 2010

    Dreams do come true.

  • Randall Robinson June 21, 2010

    Dreams do come true.

  • daniel June 22, 2010

    Christina, I spoke to Mike Alvarez yesterday afternoon. According to him they had someone out there yesterday that replaced the photocells for the lights. They should be turning on and off automatically now from dusk to dawn. Can you let me know if you notice the change this week? A big Thank you to Public Works and Mike Alvarez for responding so quickly.

  • daniel June 22, 2010

    Christina, I spoke to Mike Alvarez yesterday afternoon. According to him they had someone out there yesterday that replaced the photocells for the lights. They should be turning on and off automatically now from dusk to dawn. Can you let me know if you notice the change this week? A big Thank you to Public Works and Mike Alvarez for responding so quickly.

  • Rick Martin June 26, 2010

    The principal concern with this beautiful walkway, is the continued errosion of the beach sands in some areas along the walk. It is too bad there has been no beach renourishment of the sands and the walkway is in danger, as the ocean waves are getting very close.

    Hope someone is working on it!

  • Rick Martin June 26, 2010

    The principal concern with this beautiful walkway, is the continued errosion of the beach sands in some areas along the walk. It is too bad there has been no beach renourishment of the sands and the walkway is in danger, as the ocean waves are getting very close.

    Hope someone is working on it!

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