Town Looks to 'Save the Stepping Stones Lighthouse'

The Town of North Hempstead is upping the ante on promoting the lighthouse that sits atop a rocky foundation off the coast of Kings Point.

A 4-foot by 18-foot banner urging people to “Save the Stepping Stones Lighthouse” has been placed on the the fence surrounding the lighthouse.

“Our intention is to use the banner to draw attention to the lighthouse and the joint efforts by the Town, the Great Neck Historical Society and the Great Neck Park District to restore it,” Town Supervisor Bosworth Judi Bosworth said.

Stepping Stones Lighthouse, built in 1878 and obtained by the Town in 2000, helps guide the maritime community safely around the dangerous reefs all within one of the busiest ports in the world.

The lighthouse is a bit of a fixer-upper. It requires:

• Stabilization and building repairs after foundation blocks on the eastern side of the lighthouse shifted
• Repair of saltwater damage to the basement
• Asbestos removal

A $500,000 grant the Town applied for will help recover this deteriorating building.

The grant, obtained through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation-Long Island North Shore Heritage Area Grant Program, would be used to construct a dock at the lighthouse.

The dock is needed to make sure visitors can access the lighthouse safely. The lighthouse can only currently be accessed by boats at high tide. A dock would allow visitors to come at any time.

Image via Town of North Hempstead