New boardwalks, trails, and waterfront parks are opening up some of the South Shore’s most scenic bayfront locations just in time for summer.
With the summer season fast approaching, local officials are highlighting a growing network of waterfront access projects aimed at connecting residents with the South Shore’s bays, beaches, and maritime heritage.
At the end of Bay Avenue in East Moriches, the Town of Brookhaven recently installed a new boardwalk leading down to Moriches Bay. The scenic walkway opens to sweeping views of Fire Island stretching across the southern horizon and the Moriches Inlet cutting into the Atlantic Ocean.
The area remains one of Long Island’s great natural treasures. Ospreys nest nearby, endangered piping plovers dart along the shoreline, and seals are occasionally spotted on the sandbars. Schools of menhaden and other baitfish draw striped bass and bluefish into local waters, while clammers and crabbers continue traditions that have defined the South Shore for generations.
“It gives residents another opportunity to enjoy one of our crown jewels,” Suffolk Legislator James Mazzarella said of the waterfront improvements. “These are places families can enjoy and be proud of.”
The boardwalk sits beside the former Cerullo Brothers Fishing Station, one of many old marinas that once lined the bayfront where anglers from New York City rented boats and returned home with coolers full of fish. Many of those legendary spots are now gone, though memories of the South Shore’s fishing culture remain strong.
Next door, Suffolk County has transformed the old Tadsen’s Fishing Station property into a passive park with trails winding through a quiet woodland setting down to the water’s edge. Mazzarella said additional improvements could be considered as the county begins work on its next capital budget.
The projects are part of a broader effort to expand waterfront access across the Mastic Peninsula and Moriches Bay region. Officials are also moving forward with plans for the Violet’s Cove eco-park in Mastic Beach, which will include a pavilion, kayak launch, living shoreline, and educational features focused on the bay ecosystem.
“We are a seaside community,” Mazzarella said. “Access to the waterfront is part of who we are.”