Reconstruction underway on Sagamore Hill boardwalk

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site has awarded a $199,000 contract to Chesterfield Associates Inc. of Westhampton Beach for the reconstruction of the Eel Creek Boardwalk leading to Cold Spring Harbor.

The boardwalk, which provides access to Sagamore Hill’s beach and salt marsh, was irreparably damaged during superstorm Sandy last October. Funding for the project is part of $398 million in aid set aside to assist the National Park Service with recovery from the storm.

Work began Sept. 9 and is expected be completed Oct. 19.

The reconstruction project will re-establish access to the beach Theodore Roosevelt and his family frequently visited for swimming and camping. When finished, the 366-foot-long boardwalk will allow visitors to view the harbor and the wildlife that frequents the salt marsh that is part of the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the largest refuge in the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The waterfront is frequented by herons, belted kingfishers, osprey, horseshoe crabs and daggerblade grass shrimp.