Central Park Rowboating Returns With Floating Dock - Still Not ADA Compliant

A Boathouse rowboat concession employee helps a returning rowboat onto the new dock.  Workers are now easily able to guide the rowboats  on to the dock via rollers. Row boating in Central Park returned after $ 200,000 partly taxpayer-funded renovation.  The new dock however is not ADA compliant and the city did not require it.   (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

One of Central Park's most popular attractions has returned.

The Loeb Boathouse reopened its popular rowboat concession after a more than $ 200,000 - partly taxpayer funded renovation,  NYC Park Advocates has learned.  

The dock,  including its sixty-two year infrastructure were completely ripped out and replaced with a plastic floating dock.

The redesigned deck, made of brown colored polyethylene, will rise and fall with the lake and not be susceptible to flooding as the wooden planks were since they were first installed. It will also be safer. 

"Wood was missing people were falling in, " said a worker helping a family from Florida out of a boat.

"It was rotted, it's way better now. The rollers make is much easier the boats slide right up. The grip on the floor is much better,"  the worker said.


A Boathouse rowboat concession employee in Central Park helps a family returning to the new dock. 

Over the last several months The Lake in Central Park had been eerily quiet as The Loeb Boathouse rowboat concession quietly underwent a massive renovation.   Usually teeming with boating enthusiasts park goers arrived to find the concession hidden behind a green mesh construction fence with no clue as to what was going on. 

In April workers began disassembling the deteriorated deck.  Wearing waders the construction crew trudged through the murky water and removed the rotted slabs, carting them away one by one.

April, 2015.  Demolishing The Deteriorated Dock. Workers haul away the rotted wooden decking from the old dock.  

The modular system dock arrived in multiple sections two weeks ago and crews quickly began assembling it.

The city shared the costs which are supposed to be the responsibly of the concessionaire.   

One design feature did not change however - the dock is not ADA compliant.

The city did not require that a system be installed that would allow people in wheelchairs to access the boats.  This can be accomplished by installing either by a lift or transfer station. No word whether or not the city will require that when they release a new RFP. 

Both the Parks Department and the Boathouse concessionaire owner Dean Poll refused to respond to questions despite several requests.

"It was nice and sturdy," Danielle Boivin, 23, an actress who recently moved from St. Louis said of the new dock.


The modular system dock arrived in multiple sections two weeks ago and crews quickly began assembling it.

"The rowing was really fun. It's so beautiful. We got our workout for the day."

Boating on the Lake has been a popular pastime from the Park's earliest days.

Located on the East Side of the Park between 74th and 75th Streets, boating on the park's second largest water body has been a favorite since the park opened more than 150 years ago. 

Row boating is normally available from April through October.

"It was seriously fun,"  said Kanchalee Wijakpaisarn, 28, a film maker. 

"It (rowing) reminded me of Harry Potter. It was beautiful."

Rowers are able to pass under the iconic Bow Bridge (1862) which is currently closed and partly enclosed in a white tent to prevent debris from falling into the Lake. The beautiful cast-iron bridge, and the second oldest in America. 

For the first time rowers are also able to pass under the iconic Bow Bridge (1862) for an up close and personal inspection of the repair work underway.  The cast-iron bridge, the second oldest in America,  is currently closed and partly enclosed in a white tent to prevent debris from falling into the Lake.

Row boats can be rented at the Loeb Boathouse daily, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. The boats must be returned by 6:30 pm. Rentals cost $15 for the first hour and $3 each additional 15 minutes.  Note: The website has not been updated and still states that the dock is under repair. Also the $ 12 cost to row for an hour was raised last year to $ 15.  

Photo Gallery:   (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

 In April demolition crews began removing the wooden dock, including its sixty-two year infrastructure

Wearing waders, the demolition crew removed materials in the murky water.

The old dock was carted away.  

The old dock, including its sixty-two year infrastructure were removed completely.

A crew unloaded the modular dock system which arrived in multiple sections.

Workers quickly began assembling it.

Smooth Sailing. A Boathouse rowboat concession employee helps a returning rowboats onto the new dock.