One of the city’s most cherished public spaces, Rockaway Beach is undergoing significant redevelopment. Started in the fall of 2010 and on-track to be completed this summer, the redesign will include three major new constructions for the public’s enjoyment: a performance lawn, a boardwalk overlook, and a new comfort station, as well as other ecological improvements to the area like better storm water collection and tree plantings. The goal is to create more usable public space that is functionally viable, ecologically tenable, and visually enjoyable. Claire Weisz, principal of WXY + Urban Design which developed the plan along with QRP landscape architects, sees the improvements as not only benefiting beach goers and seasonal tourists, but also as a vital component to fostering a greater sense of community among the area’s permanent residents.