Video: A crown jewel shines brighter

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The damage wasn’t limited to erosion. The storm knocked out the electricity in some areas of the park for months. “We were on generator power for quite some time,” said Leggio. Electrical sources, such as the fuse box near the administration building, have been raised to avoid future flooding.

Although a dedicated staff and state funds facilitated the park’s turnaround, serendipity played a role. Materials that had been reserved for projects scheduled before the storm were used for urgent reconstruction. “They ordered this Brazilian rainforest wood,” Leggio said of the ipe. “It’s not something you can get an abundant amount of, so they ordered it ahead of time for planned renovations.” He added that the pre-arranged jobs hadn’t been canceled, but rather delayed by the recovery effort.

In March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a $65 million, five-year Jones Beach Revitalization Plan, which is still in the development stages. “It hasn’t come down to actual construction at this point,” said Susan Giuliani, the park director. “It takes time to develop the plans and to get the plans implemented.”

There are plans to further enhance storm resiliency, streamline park entry and construct new dining and recreational facilities, possibly including a zipline and a rock climbing wall.

“I think the state of New York realizes this particular park is of utmost importance for tourism,” said Wilfried Thewes, a beach patron. “I think they did the right thing.”

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