Summer Crew Fixes Flood Damage in Time for Greenway Debut

from the Mamaroneck Town Conservation Department

(September 4, 2008) During the April '07 Nor'easter, the raging Sheldrake River wiped out two major boardwalks and three bridges on the Leatherstocking and Sheldrake River Trails. In mid August, the Town of Mamaroneck's summer conservation crew completed restoring these structures, in time for the September 28 opening of the Colonial Greenway that includes the Mamaroneck trails. The newly renovated bridge and 160-foot long section of boardwalk are located on the Leatherstocking/Sheldrake River Trails near Rockland Avenue.

A 2007 Nor'easter ripped up several boardwalks and bridges. .

Working for the Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Department, the summer crew is made up of eight local youths, ages of 16 and 21. They are responsible for the maintenance of the Town's hiking trails and conservation areas including cleaning up litter, clearing the trails and chipping wood for the trails. Additionally, each summer the crew undertakes a construction project to repair the many bridges and boardwalks on the trails.

This year’s project was particularly challenging because it required the removal and demolition of the old boardwalk as well as removal of the old footings. Next, all of the lumber used to rebuild the structures had to be pre-cut and hand carried into the woods along with tools, footings and a generator. Helping with the project was local carpenter, Bob Chapderlane of Rye Restorations.

Elizabeth Paul, environmental planner for the Town of Mamaroneck, was very impressed with this year’s crew. “Despite the heat, mud and physical exhaustion (from endless trips back and forth to the pick-up truck with loads of lumber and concrete footings) they never gave up and managed to complete the reconstruction of 160 feet of boardwalk in just 4 days,” she said. “This may not be an Olympic record, but it is definitely a record in the Town of Mamaroneck."

Members of Mamaroneck Town's summer conservation crew install new sections of boardwalk.

The crew included: Nia Lugo, Shay-Patrick Wheatley, Matthew Roque, Jonathan Miller, Matthew Fishman, Matt Conner, Christian Degenhardt, and Eric Degenhardt.

Colonial Greenway Opening + Half Marathon: September 28

The structures in the Town of Mamaroneck are now ready for the official opening of the Colonial Greenway Trail - a 15 mile loop connecting parks in the Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck, Village of Scarsdale, Town of Eastchester and the City of New Rochelle. (See: Colonial Greenway Close to Completing 15- Mile Loop.) The trail will be officially dedicated on Sunday, September 28th at 8:45 am at Paine Cottage on North Avenue in New Rochelle. After the dedication ceremony, the Soundshore Runner's Club will be hosting a half marathon on the trail, which they have appropriately titled the "Paine to Pain Classic." (For details, see: Sound Shore Runners & Multisport Club.)

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