Down with the dunes

AM 570 Podcast

Column from The Wave

There, I said it. The residents of Belle Harbor and Neponsit were recently blindsided by a government plan that includes reconstructing and expanding the existing dunes on the beach, while promising more security to homeowners. As a result, obstructive and cumbersome ramps allowing handicapped folks to surmount these giant structures will be required by law. The community has been staunchly opposed to much of the dune portion of the project. The fierce opposition has been to the proposed switchback ramping systems that will force all beach goers to traverse hundreds of feet of meandering ramps just to get to and from the sand, as well as the proposed handicapped pathway connecting all these ramps. Many believe however that the pathway’s true purpose is to connect the Rockaway Boardwalk with Riis Park. As a result, this quiet residential neighborhood will now be connecting the two crowded popular destinations that were each designed for the masses. If the fundamental need for this contentious pathway is truly to provide access to the ramping systems rather than connecting the two destinations, then by simply eliminating the dunes we can solve both problems.

So then let’s consider the need for the dunes: They were constructed, along with a separate 4’ high concrete sea wall, after Sandy to provide a sense of security and protection for property owners from future superstorms. Little consideration was given by the government at that time however to seniors, child-toting mothers and handicapped residents who’ve suffered as a result. Rather than worrying about the few who would be marginalized by the dunes, the government decided to cater to the masses back then. In today’s convoluted times however, the government instead routinely demands that the masses accept risks in the interests of the few. So why then don’t we simply remove the dunes and ask folks to collectively accept the potential risks of property damage so that everyone can again enjoy unobstructed access to the beach? Sadly, in the wake of Sandy, the government’s fast and feckless attempt to restrain Mother Nature through dune building marginalized the relatively few handicapped among us. At some point since then however, the government went from serving the majority regardless of the few, to serving the few regardless of the majority. Remember, the construction of the dunes is what created this beach access issue in the first place.

At a time when government’s true motives and agenda is often hidden, many locals aren’t buying into their latest narrative. Few see the need to construct giant sea walls made of rocks and boulders cloaked in sand and vegetation to look like natural dunes. Especially when the trade off is even less accessibility for anyone looking to enjoy the seashore.

The notion that humans can control nature is ridiculous and narcissistic. Just how much of our collective humanity and quality of life are we willing to discard in that pursuit? The original dunes were presented as an added layer of protection for residents in a time of panic and regardless of our handicapped neighbors; But now we’ve learned that many continue to suffer as a result. Whenever Mother Nature again feels the need to flood Rockaway, she won’t be denied. Her waters will either weaponize the hard materials used to build those giant dunes, or circumvent them to attack us from the surrounding directions.

Let’s just return to a flat, spacious, fully accessible beach and increase the height of the existing sea wall for good measure. That’ll pragmatically solve all the accessibility issues while offering a reasonable and practical degree of storm protection. Everyone can then live their life to the fullest while respecting and accepting nature’s omnipresent power over us.