Nor'Easter Claims Part Of Boardwalk Stairs Leading To Beach At Oceanfront Park On Long Island

SHIRLEY, NY — A portion of the stairs leading to the beach at an oceanfront park on Long Island was claimed by Mother Nature in the weekend's nor'easter.

Visitors to Smith Point County Park in Shirley on Sunday morning were aghast at the sight of the stairs, which are missing the bottom portion that rests on the beach, and a portion of the railing has separated. They took to social media, posting photos of the damage, disappointingly bemoaning the loss of access, which leads from the boardwalk at the pavilion down to the beach.

There are other access points to the beach, which is closed to bathing for the season, including stairs at the campgrounds to the east, and on the western side, which is the start of the U.S. Parks Department's Fire Island wilderness area.

Midmorning Sunday, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine posted to Facebook that no incoming traffic would be allowed to the park, only campers at the campgrounds.

A county spokesman said Monday that the measure was not undertaken due to the broken stairs, but "as a protective measure, as the storm was serious and it was necessary to exercise caution."

Romaine on Friday expressed concern for the beach, which was showing some early signs of erosion, with heavy waves rolling past the bottom of the stairs hours before high tide.

The stairs to the bridge have been replaced, if not entirely, at least once before in 2012, after Superstorm Sandy.