If you walk Nyack's Hudson shoreline this fall, starting at the fishing pier in Memorial Park and heading north past the pedestrian bridge toward the marina, where does the public path stop working? Since this summer, the stretch from the pedestrian bridge to the fishing pier is a smooth, accessible path where the old gravel used to be. The weak spot is now farther north, at a Village-owned lot near the end of Burd Street, next to Nyack Marina. The River Club restaurant stood there until it closed in 2015, and the building came down in 2019.
The state's own planning document describes the site plainly. The bulkhead along that lot has failed, and its condition leaves "a gap in the otherwise continuous shoreline path." The plan to close that gap has already been chosen and partly funded. It can't move forward yet because, legally, the lot is still a park.
Thirty Years of Building the Waterfront in Pieces
The riverfront you walk today wasn't built as one big project. According to the New York Department of State's August 27, 2026 announcement, Nyack has received and spent several Local Waterfront Revitalization Program awards over the past 30 years, totaling $1.3 million.
| Project | Award | What it built |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Park/Village Marina Connection and Waterfront Pathway | $401,000 | Riverside walkway linking Memorial Park to the marina, plus the inlet pedestrian bridge |
| Boat Ramp and Dock | $150,000 | Ramp and eco-dock at Nyack Marina |
| Memorial Park Shoreline and Fishing Pier | $150,000 | Fishing pier with railings and an accessible boat ramp |
| Update to LWRP Plan | $75,000 | Amended plan guiding waterfront development |
Each award paid for one more piece. The pedestrian bridge, the fishing pier and the marina connection all came from separate grants years apart. The 2026 path filled in the stretch between two of those pieces.
What Changed Along the Shoreline This Summer
Work on the Memorial Park Shoreline Pathway started Monday, March 30, 2026, and the Village reports it was done by June 30, 2026. When the project began, News 12 reported that the fenced work zone covered the area between the pedestrian bridge and the viewing platform, and the rest of the park stayed open. Mayor Joe Rand said the project would replace a couple of "very hard benches" with more comfortable seating by the water.
The finished work includes:
- An accessible path along the Hudson from the pedestrian bridge south to the fishing pier, replacing gravel the state called "difficult to navigate"
- Shoreline stabilization using landscaping and other materials, built to hold up better against storm surge
- New gathering spaces, picnic tables, landscaping, lighting and rain gardens
- A pad for future public art installations
The Village hired A-Tech Concrete for construction, and Weston & Sampson handled design. The two public sources report the cost a little differently. The state release says the project was supported by a $417,000 grant. The Village's capital projects page lists $412,276 in state funding plus a Village match of $139,092.
The art pad is empty for now. The state announcement doesn't name an artist or a planned piece. Nyack also received a separate $590,580 state award in 2025 for "Nyack Waterfront Restoration and Resiliency Improvements." The public announcements reviewed for this post don't give that work's scope or schedule.
What the Village Plans for the Old River Club Lot
On May 14, 2026, the Village announced the nine projects chosen for its $4.5 million NY Forward award. Among them is "Activate the Waterfront by Constructing a Restaurant and Open Space," with $1,250,000 in grant money. The full project budget in the Strategic Investment Plan is $3,961,000, so the state award covers about a third.
Here's what the plan describes for the Burd Street site:
- A one-story restaurant of about 1,750 square feet, with an outdoor dining deck under a retractable awning
- About 3,200 square feet of public outdoor space, including decking, lawn and a games area
- Replacement of 80 feet of failed bulkhead with new steel plates and a tie-back system anchored into a buried concrete "deadman"
The third item matters most for anyone who walks the shoreline. Fixing the bulkhead is what closes the gap the plan identifies, and the plan calls that replacement "essential" to bringing the site back for both the restaurant and public use. The plan also describes views of the Hudson River and the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge from the dining deck.
The Village would own the building shell, the indoor seating area, public bathrooms and a basic kitchen. A private operator chosen later would finish the interior and run the restaurant under a concession license. That license would cover monthly rent, who maintains and repairs what, and hours of operation. No operator has been named.
Why a Funded Project Still Has No Start Date
Under its current designation, the River Club lot is Village parkland, and New York doesn't let a municipality lease out parkland for long-term private use without state legislation. On May 21, 2026, the Village Board took up Resolution 2026-102, which asks the state to pass Assembly Bill A8140A. The resolution states the problem directly:
"the alienation of this parcel is necessary to enable long-term leasing and redevelopment of the former River Club site, which cannot occur under its current parkland designation"
The bill would change the River Club site and the nearby marina parking area from parkland to general municipal use. Nyack would then owe either replacement parkland of equal or greater fair market value and recreational usefulness, or, if no such land is available, a payment of that fair market value to be spent only on parks and recreation in the Village. The Village's 2026 resolutions register lists the home rule request under the May 21 meeting.
The bill has had a mixed record in Albany. The Assembly passed A8140A 130 to 9 and sent it to the Senate on June 2, 2026. The Senate's record for A8140A still shows it in the Rules Committee, and it hasn't been sent to the Governor. Its Senate companion, S7538A, passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, but its record says it then died in the Assembly. An amended version was recommitted to the Senate Local Government Committee on May 19, 2026, where it remains. So each chamber has passed a version of the bill at a different time, but the same version hasn't passed both.
The schedule has slipped accordingly. The Village's August 2025 NY Forward application planned to issue an "RFEI for restaurant tenants," a request for expressions of interest, in "Summer 2026" and to award a concession agreement in "Fall-Winter 2026." As of October 10, 2026, the only open solicitation on the Village bids page is for rooftop solar. Once the project does start, the Strategic Investment Plan estimates 28 months to finish: nine months for design, engineering and the lease, four months for approvals, and 15 months of construction. Those 28 months don't begin until the land question is resolved.
Using the Finished Stretch Before the Season Closes
The new path between the bridge and the pier is open now, and the fall calendar already has events on it. The Village Board approved a roller-skating event in Memorial Park for October 17 and 18, 2026, and a plein-air painting event in the park on October 17. Our fall guide to Nyack covers the downtown dates around them.
The water side of the park closes in steps. Nyack Marina has 43 slips and a municipal launch ramp that's available with a daily permit. The 2026 slip agreement runs from May 15 to November 1, and boats have to be out by November 1. The kayak-rack form lists a storage period through December 31 but separately says watercraft must be removed by November 30. Plan around the November 30 date.
Residents can also pay for permanent pieces along the new path. On May 7, 2026, the Village set revised prices for its park amenity sponsorship program.
| Sponsored item | One-time contribution |
|---|---|
| Tree | $1,900 |
| 6-foot picnic table | $3,580 |
| 6-foot bench | $3,750 |
| 8-foot bench | $4,000 |
| Chess table | $4,100 |
| 8-foot picnic table | $4,180 |
Artwork and sculpture are also listed as sponsorship options, but the page doesn't give a price for them. To sponsor something, you choose an item and a location, send in the form with payment, and submit plaque wording for Village approval. The Village then schedules installation. Contributions are non-refundable, and questions go to the Village administrator's office at 845-358-0548 ext. 283.
The new bench plaques will sit along the finished stretch south of the pedestrian bridge. The Burd Street lot's 80 feet of failed bulkhead is still the gap in the shoreline path, and fixing it depends on the Senate passing a bill that the Assembly passed in June.
If you own near Nyack's waterfront and want to know how projects like the Burd Street plan figure into a valuation, Jacqueline Vasquez follows them closely, from first proposal to finished work. Request a home valuation or read more on our Nyack neighborhood page. Let's connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.