Dunkirk Partners with Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to Restore and Protect Wright Park Beach Shoreline
Preliminary Design Efforts to Strengthen Shorelines and Safeguard Infrastructure Brings Out Community and Local Officials
Over 40 people attended a public meeting on Aug. 26 at Wright Park Beach in Dunkirk. It gave community members the ability to learn more about initial efforts to protect the region’s Lake Erie shoreline.
The City of Dunkirk is launching the design phase of a major shoreline protection effort in partnership with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSCI) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is facilitating outreach and community discussion for the project.
The Wright Park Beach Shoreline Naturalization and Protection Project will focus on restoring and stabilizing the shoreline, bluffs, and habitat at Wright Park Beach. This popular Lake Erie destination has faced significant erosion from stormwater, lake level fluctuations, and waves as high as 30 feet—damaging infrastructure and threatening the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
The bluffs near Wright Beach in Dunkirk.
“Dunkirk’s waterfront is a vital asset for our community and it’s imperative that we take action to protect it from the increasing impacts from climate change,” said Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz.
“This project will safeguard critical infrastructure along our shoreline while enhancing important recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to our community.”
Click Below to View A Larger Image of Each Concept, or Click Here to Download a PDF.
This effort is part of the GLSCI Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative, which aims to deliver sustainable, fundable designs to protect vulnerable Great Lakes shorelines.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is supporting public engagement and outreach around potential restoration alternatives for the Wright Park Beach shoreline and a companion Dunkirk Lakefront Framework Plan, which will establish a comprehensive vision for the waterfront along Lake Front Boulevard between the marina and Wright Park Beach.
Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel Jr.
“We’re behind this 100 percent, the county is on board, and I’m really excited to see what plans come of this,” Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel Jr. said.
Community members were invited to ask questions and offer suggestions to the potential strategies. That input will then be used to create a preliminary design for the Wright Park shoreline. Two additional public meetings will occur over the next year.
Dunkirk residents can fill out the community survey here.
Michelle Paltz from LimnoTech
About the Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative (RCPI)
Launched in 2021, the RCPI responds to growing challenges from coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion, which threaten public safety, municipal infrastructure, and natural ecosystems across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region. Since its inception, the program has secured nearly $18 million—primarily through federal funding—to help cities plan sustainable, fundable coastal projects.
To date, the Cities Initiative has supported nearly 80 municipalities under RCPI. Funding for this work is provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“These design projects represent a critical step forward in helping our member cities adapt to the realities of a changing climate,” said Jonathan Altenberg, CEO of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. “We’re proud to support our local leaders as they take proactive steps to build stronger, more resilient communities.”
To learn more about the Resilient Coastal Projects Initiative, visit:
glslcities.org/initiatives/resilient-coastal-projects-initiative
About the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a multinational coalition of municipal and Indigenous government executives representing communities in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region who are working to promote economic prosperity in our communities and protect our fresh water for the benefit of current and future generations. With more than 350 member communities, the Cities Initiative is leading the way in advancing the environmental, economic, and social health of the region by addressing issues impacting its residents.
