Plans For New Riverside Maritime Trail Park Move Ahead

RIVERSIDE, NY — Plans for the new Riverside Maritime Trail Park are moving full steam ahead.

Members of the Flanders/ Riverside/Northampton Community Association attended a Southampton town board work session Thursday to hear the "final, 100 percent presentation on conceptual design plans for Riverside Maritime Trail Park," according to town officials.

The Riverside Maritime Trail Park and wetland restoration project is planned for the 14 acre Suffolk County park property located on the Peconic River in Riverside; the town has an inter-municipal agreement with the county for the park project, Southampton Town Superviso Jay Schneiderman said in a release.

In previous months, Araiys Design, landscape architects hired by the town, held three community meetings and discussed possible design features to be incorporated into the park.

The initial concept planning was funded by a grant awarded to FRNCA by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The design group brought their final conceptual plans to the town board during the work session. Those conceptual plans include a walking trail with the main spine of the trail running east to west; opening up views that will be visible from Flanders Road; removing non-native plants; creating pedestrian access; creating vehicular access to a parking area; creating a kayak launch area; designing a Great Lawn in an area that already exists; building a performance stage; utilizing one of the overlook areas as an educational classroom; designing a comfort station; and developing exercise areas.

The architects recommended a three-phase plan that will help the town budget through available state and other grants; next steps involve the town submitting requests for proposals for design and construction documents.

“Let’s move forward,” Schneiderman said. “We have a plan.”

Photos courtesy Southampton Town.