Southampton Town officials and residents gathered on Wednesday morning to celebrate the opening of the new Riverside Maritime Trail Park.
The park sits on the south side of the Peconic River with access along the north side of Flanders Road. It was identified as a potential recreational development for the blighted hamlet in the 2015 Riverside Revitalization Action Plan. Since then, Southampton Town has developed the idea in tandem with the public and partnered with the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association to obtain grants for the project.
“Riverside, Northampton [and] Flanders said: ‘we have no access to the river. We’re Riverside with no access.’ We got our access today, guys,” Angela Huneault, president of the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association said to applause.
“Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts — thank you so much for listening,” Huneault said.
The walking trail unveiled on Wednesday is a part of the first phase of the park’s development, which Southampton officials said could include as a fishing dock, kayak launch site and other active recreational development — as well as the potential to expand the trail east. The trail is located on Suffolk County environmentally sensitive parkland and adjacent land acquired by Southampton Town.
“We’re just so proud to be able to move forward and do these things to help lift up this community,” Southampton Supervisor Maria Moore said.
Southampton Council Member Tommy John Schiavoni said the park is one of several projects to revitalize the Riverside hamlet, including the restoration of several historic buildings, the building of Habitat for Humanity homes and the creation of the Riverside Sewer District and sewage treatment plant, which will facilitate the creation of high-density mixed-use development.
“So many of us recognize that we have been working tremendously hard and diligently to make sure Riverside and the people of Flanders are heard, and today is their day,” Council Member Michael Iasilli said. “Revitalization is key for growth — smart growth… This is about opportunity and the quality of life of folks who live here, which is a diverse array of different people.”
Schiavoni said in an interview that improvements to the park, including a fishing dock and kayak launch, could come as soon as this fall.
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