Nestled along the coast of Great Neck, Harbor Hills Park offers a wonderful view of Little Neck Bay and provides waterfront access for the local community. In addition to stunning views, the facility also supports several upland features, including swimming pools, playgrounds, and public restrooms. Substantial damage caused by Superstorm Sandy prompted the Town of North Hempstead to take action to restore this vital community asset.

GEI’s waterfront engineers were retained by the Town to serve as the prime consultant leading a multi-disciplinary team tasked with the replacement and storm hardening of the Harbor Hills Park Seawall and Pier. Successful execution required a multi-phase approach to address various project demands.

Early phases included producing an initial assessment of the waterfront asset conditions, successfully soliciting FEMA grants to obtain project funds, and successfully applying for local, state, and federal regulatory permits. Progressing through design, construction commenced in summer 2021, targeting completion later that year. GEI staff coordinated among the Town, community, and selected contractor to produce a final product that met the community’s goals without compromising budget or schedule.

Key project challenges included actively involving and coordinating with representatives from the local community, Town Board, and Nassau County; permitting in an environmentally sensitive area; and producing designs that are aesthetically pleasing, economically constructible, and resilient.