Al Paolillo

New Haven is set to enhance one of its greatest natural assets – the Long Island Sound – by rebuilding its Fort Hale Park pier.

The structure was leveled by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. In the years following the destruction of the pier, we’ve collected city residents’ input and held community forums to create a proposal to rebuild the structure.

These ideas, which provided the basis for the pier’s design, are reflective of New Haven’s commitment to revitalize its waterfront and become a tourist destination. Plans for the new pier were released in March, and last week, city officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 16 to mark the start of a roughly six-month construction period to rebuild the structure.

The new pier will stretch across 360 feet – 10 feet longer than the former structure – and will be 12 feet wide. The structure will also include a hammerhead walkway, or a “T” shape, that will be 140 feet long and 16 feet wide. The pier is slated to open next spring.

This project would not have been made possible without the hard work of Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, who helped secure $1.8 million in funding from the Connecticut Bonding Commission in July 2015.

This project stands to not only benefit local residents, but people statewide. With the added amenities, this pier will become one of New Haven’s shiniest jewels – one that can be enjoyed by many generations to come.