• Innovative rehabilitation of existing facility
• National ADA AWACP
• National SOBA Design Award
• On-site reuse of dredge spoil
• Project completed on time and on budget
Challenge
Haines Memorial Park is located along Bullock Cove in Barrington, Rhode Island, where the existing bulkhead and boat launch provide recreational waterfront access. The waterfront was originally developed through substantial filling into the cove, with record plans indicating that up to 7 feet of fill was placed approximately 160 feet offshore. The existing approximately 140-foot-long timber bulkhead, concrete boat launch, and seasonal small-boat landing required evaluation and rehabilitation to support continued recreational use.
Solution
GZA performed a visual inspection of the bulkhead and boat launch and completed a subsurface exploration program to characterize the underlying soils and develop engineering design parameters and performed bathymetric/topographic surveying extending approximately 100 feet around the boat launch. GZA documented the investigation findings and recommendations in a comprehensive inspection report submitted to RIDEM.
GZA was subsequently retained to design the waterfront improvements. The design included a steel sheet pile cofferdam, removal of near-surface sediment, preloading of the new boat ramp footprint, mechanically stabilized ramp subgrade, a precast concrete boat ramp surface, two floating docks, and a new stone revetment. The improvements also incorporated an accessible floating dock. GZA advanced the design through contract plans and specifications and provided construction-phase support during implementation.
Benefit
GZA’s involvement from initial condition assessment and subsurface investigation through final design and construction support provided a coordinated approach to addressing the park’s aging waterfront infrastructure. The improvements provided a more durable boat launch and shoreline system while maintaining recreational access to Bullock Cove and incorporating accessible floating dock facilities. The project combined geotechnical, waterfront, civil, and construction-phase services to develop improvements responsive to the site’s existing shoreline conditions and recreational function.