Governor Kathy Hochul announced a major milestone in the long-awaited rebuilding of Lake Sebago Beach at Harriman State Park, with construction set to begin on a $95.8 million reconstruction project. The popular Hudson Valley swimming destination has been closed since 2011 after being severely damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
The project marks a key component of the Governor’s NY SWIMS initiative, aimed at expanding access to safe, modern public swimming facilities statewide. Officials say the revitalized Lake Sebago Beach will be designed to withstand extreme weather while restoring a beloved recreation site for future generations.
Under the plan, the state awarded an $80.8 million construction contract to C-Squared Constructors LLC of Wilton, NY. Additional contracts include $10 million to Stantec Landscape Architecture and Geology PC of Rochester for design services and $5 million to LiRo Program and Construction Management PE PC of Syosset as construction manager. Funding includes $78.1 million from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and $17.1 million from New York State Parks capital funding. Construction on the 48-acre site is expected to begin in spring 2026, with completion slated for summer 2027.
“Lake Sebago Beach has been beloved since it opened in the early 1950s,” Governor Hochul said, adding that the project will allow a new generation of New Yorkers to enjoy swimming and outdoor recreation at the park.
New York State Parks Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said the investment reverses decades of disinvestment in public swimming facilities and restores an important recreation area easily accessible to the New York City metro region. Joshua Laird, Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, called Sebago Beach a “jewel” of the park system that will once again be a destination for families across the region.
The rebuilt beach will feature new sand, repairs to the existing bathhouse, new restrooms, and capacity for more than 4,000 visitors. Plans also include parking for at least 900 vehicles across three lots, a 1,600-foot lakeside promenade, two new playgrounds, and picnic and game areas. Sustainability features include rooftop solar panels on the bathhouse, infrastructure for future EV charging stations, and a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility.
To improve resiliency and water quality, the project also restores Stillwater Creek and surrounding wetlands, replacing outdated underground piping and better managing floodwaters and sediment. A new bridge will carry Masonic Camp Road over the restored creek, and the site is designed to withstand storms with up to a 500-year intensity.
State officials say the project builds on broader investments in parks and outdoor recreation, while advancing environmental justice goals by directing Bond Act funding toward communities historically underserved by recreational infrastructure.
95 million????!!!!!!!
We cannot even keep constituents fed and warm. And she wants to do what!?
95 million dollars and that piece of work says that NY has no money for the MTA, has to rob people and make congestion pricing . And now it’s going to spend nearly 100 million on swimming!!!! She is honestly insane and beyond corrupt. New Yorkers have to wake up and stop voting for garbage. If you have rotten food in your house that smells, you would get rid of it. Get rid of the stench and vote Republican always. She is trash and throw her out!!!
Totally want to see the details on this one. Wondering what might be hidden in the project. Wondering if there are plans to enhance the ability of Sebago to be siphoned off to increase water flow on the Ramapo river to address all the overdevelopment running it dry.