The Town of Babylon took matters into their own hands when a contractor for the Army Corps. of Engineers was unable to deliver sand to TOBAY beach this year. Erosion threatened the structural integrity of the center pavilion, as well as the dunes that protect Ocean Parkway as high tide encroached on the beach.
The Town reported that, in the past, its workers combed sand from the west end of TOBAY to the east, helping increase the shoreline. But, things kept getting worse and local officials met with Federal agencies to help remedy the situation. The Town entered into a contract with the Army Corps. of Engineers to bring sand from the Fire Island Inlet to TOBAY Beach. The project - set to commence prior to the 2022 beach season - never materialized when a contractor retained by the Army Corps. of Engineers backed out of a dredging project in the Fire Island Inlet.
The result was no new sand delivered from the inlet to TOBAY Beach, what the town called “a real threat for beach season.”
That’s when Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and members of the Town Board today set to work on what they dubbed “the largest beach restoration project on Long Island.”
Screened, cleaned and processed sand was trucked to TOBAY Beach every day to meet the deadline to have the beach ready for Memorial Day Weekend.
In the end, 33,000 tons of sand was replenished at TOBAY Beach.
The purchased sand was processed under strict environmental guidelines before being delivered to the shoreline at TOBAY Beach.
“The men and women of the Town of Oyster Bay workforce have saved the summer,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “We’ve literally moved a mountain of sand to fortify the shoreline at TOBAY Beach and ensured residents have a new, clean beach to enjoy this Memorial Day Weekend.”