Port North Reveals Artistic Plan For Bay Walk Park

Mayor Robert Weitzner announced his 'artistic' plans for the Bay Walk Park Project in the Village of Port Washington North at Tuesday's monthly Board of Trustees meeting.

That plan is to install unique artwork along the meandering 10-foot wide walkway running between Shore Road and Manhasset Bay, which was the highlight of Phase 1 of the Bay Walk Park Project.

"We got together with the idea of many different subjects — everything from fish to wildlife and sand mining," Weitzner said of a committee of 20 teachers, artists, historians, political aficionados and stakeholders that came up with the idea to line the walkway with art. "We chose four or five top subjects that we wanted. We reached out to the art community, and we had about eight or nine submissions of which we chose five."

The mayor said, as of the meeting, the art is not available for public viewing and a set date for the art unveiling is not yet known. "Some of the pieces were donated," Weitzner said, "while others we paid for the material a little bit at a time."

The Bay Walk Park Project consists of 1.7 acres of waterfront property — 1.42 acres owned by the Village of Port Washington North, and .28 acres owned by the Town of North Hempstead. The project area is bordered by Manhasset Bay and Sheets Creek to the west, and Shore Road to the east. Heading north, it begins at the Dayton Park and ends at the Gulfway Marina.

The project, which was initiated more than four years ago in Port Washington North, focuses on two important aspects — to turn this area into an active waterfront park which encourages walking, jogging, bicycling, rollerblading, nature observation and education along with fishing, boating and kayaking, and protecting and preserving the shoreline. Phase 2 of the project will include some further renovation and possibly the replacement of the southern pier.

But the mayor's idea was met with some opposition as members of the board said they were wary of vandalism and weather damage when it came to the art.

"Vandalism can only be prevented if we consider putting video cameras and signs in the park," trustee Michael Schenkler said.

Schenkler added, "If I jump on the art pieces, will they not break?"

Weitzner said that protecting the art will be a huge priority, and that a plan will be laid out to preserve it for years to come.

"We just really need to think this thing out," Weitzner said.

The next meeting of the Port Washington North Board of Trustees will take place on Tuesday, July 6.