Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the promenade project at a press event at the Vanderbilt.

NEW YORK CITY—Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that the state will spend $151 million on a coastal resiliency project on a seven-mile stretch of Staten Island.

The more than $600-million project will involve the construction of a seawall stretching from Fort Wadsworth to Oakwood Beach. The project is geared to protecting communities from severe coastal flooding, while creating new wetland habitats and recreational amenities, including a promenade, biking and walking pathways and easier access to public beaches, state officials note.

“This innovative project takes into account the diverse needs of the affected communities, protecting against future devastating weather events, enhancing access to the shore, creating vibrant, thriving wetlands and bringing peace of mind to those living along the Staten Island coastline,” Gov. Cuomo said at the press event held at the Vanderbilt.

The seawall will be built up to 20 feet above sea level to protect against a storm at least the size of Superstorm Sandy,, while incorporating wetlands and recreational options for a comprehensive coastal resiliency solution.

The multi-use promenade to be built atop the seawall would support a range of recreational activities, including outdoor concerts, beer and food tastings, cultural festivals, nature walks, seaside carnivals, bike races, marathons and other running competitions, environmental education, and other events and community gatherings.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a series of interactive community-based design forums to solicit public input on the final design of the seawall promenade and the development of the project. New York State will host a project website and keep the public closely informed through frequent updates, state officials say.

Leveraging the state's previous investments in coastal resilience, the project also includes the construction of flood resilient wetlands in Oakwood Beach where the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery purchased more than 300 properties after Superstorm Sandy.

A final design will be complete in the winter of 2018. Construction is slated to begin in 2019 and be completed in 2022. The overall cost of the project, according to a report in the Staten Island Advance, is $615 million, with the federal government funding $400 million and New York City chipping in approximately $62 million.

NEW YORK CITY—Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that the state will spend $151 million on a coastal resiliency project on a seven-mile stretch of Staten Island.

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State to Spend $151M on Staten Island Promenade Project

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