Sound Shore Parkway
Encyclopedia
Sound Shore Parkway was a formerly proposed parkway intended to run primarily across the north shore of Long Island
between the City of Glen Cove and the Town of Smithtown, New York
. Like Ocean Parkway on the south shore, and Lake Ontario State Parkway
in Upstate New York, it was meant to provide both recreational use and a seaview, in this case a view of the Long Island Sound
. The parkway was to include two new state parks in Lattingtown, and Eatons Neck.
, where it was to encounter an interchange with the Bayville-Rye Bridge, and then towards a causeway crossing Cold Spring Harbor between Centre Island
and Lloyd Harbor's Lloyd Neck in Suffolk County
. Here, the Sound Shore Parkway would have intersected the proposed Caumsett State Parkway
(which was to lead to the Bethpage State Parkway
) at Caumsett State Park, then would have crossed a second causeway over Huntington Bay into Eatons Neck. At this point, the parkway was to swing southeast toward the Village of Asharoken
, where it was to run along the narrow land strip connecting Eatons Neck to the rest of Long Island on elevated fill along the sound-side of the beach. A similar proposal was considered for the Asharoken-Norwalk Bridge and its approach to the unbuilt Babylon-Northport Expressway.
After passing along the coast in Fort Salonga
, the Sound Shore Parkway was to have one of two eastern termini. The first proposed terminus was to be at Sunken Meadow State Park
, along what is today Naples Avenue. Evidence of this can be found on the streetlights, which are designed for medians, but are used for the north side of the road and the parking fields along it instead. It was to connect with the existing Sunken Meadow State Parkway
. The other one was an extension from Sunken Meadow State Park southeast into Caleb Smith State Park near Smithtown
, which may have even included an interchange with the unbuilt Northern State Parkway
extension's Jericho Turnpike Spur.
added this parkway to his master plan in 1965, despite retiring from the Long Island State Park Commission
two years earlier. However, by the 1970s fiscal difficulties and a political climate of rampant anti-highway sentiment thwarted all attempts at construction of the parkway, as was the case with many proposed roadways in the New York Tri-State area.
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
between the City of Glen Cove and the Town of Smithtown, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Like Ocean Parkway on the south shore, and Lake Ontario State Parkway
Lake Ontario State Parkway
The Lake Ontario State Parkway is a parkway along the southern shore of Lake Ontario in western New York in the United States. The western end of the highway is at a partial interchange within Lakeside Beach State Park in Carlton, Orleans County. Its eastern terminus is at an intersection with...
in Upstate New York, it was meant to provide both recreational use and a seaview, in this case a view of the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
. The parkway was to include two new state parks in Lattingtown, and Eatons Neck.
Proposed routing
The Sound Shore Parkway was to begin at NY 107 in downtown Glen Cove, running northeast into Lattingtown. From there, it would have continued east through BayvilleBayville, New York
The Village of Bayville, often referred to as Pine Island, is a village located on Long Island Sound facing Greenwich, Connecticut, and within the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 6,669 at the 2010 census...
, where it was to encounter an interchange with the Bayville-Rye Bridge, and then towards a causeway crossing Cold Spring Harbor between Centre Island
Centre Island, New York
The Village of Centre Island is a village located within the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. Its population was 410 as of the 2010 census....
and Lloyd Harbor's Lloyd Neck in Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
. Here, the Sound Shore Parkway would have intersected the proposed Caumsett State Parkway
Caumsett State Parkway
Caumsett State Parkway was a formerly proposed parkway on the north shore of Long Island which would have been in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties...
(which was to lead to the Bethpage State Parkway
Bethpage State Parkway
The Bethpage State Parkway is a 2.49 mile long state parkway in Nassau County, New York, United States. Its southern end is an interchange with the Southern State Parkway, and its northern end is a traffic circle within Bethpage State Park. In between are three interchanges that service...
) at Caumsett State Park, then would have crossed a second causeway over Huntington Bay into Eatons Neck. At this point, the parkway was to swing southeast toward the Village of Asharoken
Asharoken, New York
Asharoken is a village in Suffolk County, New York in the United States. The population was 625 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 11768.The Village of Asharoken is in the Town of Huntington and was incorporated in 1925.-Geography:...
, where it was to run along the narrow land strip connecting Eatons Neck to the rest of Long Island on elevated fill along the sound-side of the beach. A similar proposal was considered for the Asharoken-Norwalk Bridge and its approach to the unbuilt Babylon-Northport Expressway.
After passing along the coast in Fort Salonga
Fort Salonga
Fort Salonga, also known as NYSDHP Unique Site No. A103-08-0036, is an archeological site in the vicinity of Fort Salonga, New York that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982....
, the Sound Shore Parkway was to have one of two eastern termini. The first proposed terminus was to be at Sunken Meadow State Park
Sunken Meadow State Park
Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park and Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park Beach are located in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York in the USA on the North Shore of Long Island...
, along what is today Naples Avenue. Evidence of this can be found on the streetlights, which are designed for medians, but are used for the north side of the road and the parking fields along it instead. It was to connect with the existing Sunken Meadow State Parkway
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
The Sunken Meadow State Parkway is a long north–south parkway on Long Island in New York. All six miles of the parkway are located in the Suffolk County town of Smithtown. The southern terminus of the route is at the Northern State Parkway, where it continues southward as the Sagtikos...
. The other one was an extension from Sunken Meadow State Park southeast into Caleb Smith State Park near Smithtown
Smithtown (CDP), New York
Smithtown is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, USA. The population was 26,901 at the 2000 census.The community of Smithtown is in the Town of Smithtown.-Geography:...
, which may have even included an interchange with the unbuilt Northern State Parkway
Northern State Parkway
The Northern State Parkway is a long limited-access state parkway on Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus is at the Queens-Nassau County line, where the parkway continues westward into New York City as the Grand Central Parkway...
extension's Jericho Turnpike Spur.
History
Robert MosesRobert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
added this parkway to his master plan in 1965, despite retiring from the Long Island State Park Commission
Long Island State Park Commission
The Long Island State Park Commission was created in 1924 by the New York State Legislature to build and operate parks and parkways on Long Island. Governor Al Smith appointed as its first President, Robert Moses, who had drafted the bill creating the Commission and who served until 1953...
two years earlier. However, by the 1970s fiscal difficulties and a political climate of rampant anti-highway sentiment thwarted all attempts at construction of the parkway, as was the case with many proposed roadways in the New York Tri-State area.