In 2012, Superstorm Sandy devastated the Rockaway Peninsula, destroying the boardwalk along the beach and leveling homes. WXY redesigned and reconstructed the boardwalk with other partners. Four years later, we joined forces with the Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) and eDesign Dynamics to create the Greater Rockaway Community and Shoreline Enhancement Plan.  

While the new boardwalk has been raised above the floodplain and the US Army Corps’ reinforced dune on the beachside provides resilience, the secondary dune system facing the neighborhood has been threatened with erosion. The dune system needed a strategy to avoid the need for constant replenishment; a critical issue made more difficult by the complex web of land ownership and a lack of coordinated management. 

WXY’s vision for the Rockaway Dune Enhancement Plan spans nearly 60 blocks, from Beach 17th Street to Beach 76th Street, transforming the secondary dunes into a natural, protective barrier. The project integrates community action and environmental sustainability, including a planting program featuring native species like American beachgrass, seaside goldenrod, switchgrass, and bayberry. These plants, with their deep-root systems, stabilize the dunes, enhance biodiversity, and address flood protection and environmental equity. We also developed the Dunebook, a framework for planting and long-term maintenance of the dunes, ensuring their sustainable growth for years to come. Our approach supports community development goals, such as environmental education and workforce development, creating a thriving dune system that boosts both the ecological health and social vitality of the Rockaways. 

Our collaboration with community organizations like RISE goes beyond designing a plan; it brings Rockaway residents, both young and old, into the process. RISE’s Shore Corps participants work side-by-side with environmental experts and urban planners, discovering firsthand how to do the plantings and care for their local environment through the use of the Dunebook. Many leave the program with a passion for ecological stewardship, urban planning, and community leadership, leading to new interests and career paths.  The project brings about both long-term coastal resilience and economic opportunity through the innovative blend of ecological design and community engagement. The revitalized dune system now stands as both a physical and symbolic barrier, protecting the coast while fostering a sense of community. 

The Rockaway Dune Enhancement Plan has significantly strengthened shoreline resilience while providing economic and educational opportunities for local youth and empowering residents to actively participate in environmental stewardship. More than 2,000 schoolchildren from ten local Rockaway public school partners have participated to date, helping advance social equity and the physical wellbeing of their vibrant coastal community.