Restoring Waterfront Access at Muscota Marsh

Muscota Marsh, a waterfront section of Inwood Hill Park bordering Columbia University’s Athletic Complex, has historically been a shared space between the public and the University in an agreement with the NYC Parks Department. Originally a timber floating structure, the dock had been out of commission for over a year, with its deterioration compromising performance and public safety. Given the site’s location and its shared use between the public and Columbia University, multiple stakeholders were involved throughout the process. The result is a walkable waterfront destination for both the University and the residents of Inwood.

Our goal with the project was to restore waterfront access while looking to the future to anticipate future uses, ecological impacts, and safety. The original timber dock was converted to a floating concrete system, which will last more than twice the lifetime of a wooden dock, require little to no maintenance, and will not rot or corrode. The new concrete dock system also increased safety by widening the dock and reducing the risk of slipping due to the texture of the material.

The dock is in a section of the Spuyten Duyvil Creek that was straightened using backfill in 1919 to accommodate ship traffic. This fill led to highly variable subsurface conditions, requiring the design to ensure the pilings were deep enough to support the dock. The water level is tidally influenced, with changes occurring due to variations in seasons, tidal fluctuations, precipitation amounts, surface runoff, and other factors. The new structure was designed to adapt to various water levels, unlike the old structure, which was not usable during low tide due to sediment accretion.

The design was configured to create a pile-supported approach walkway, gangway, and floating dock layout that could easily accommodate the haul in/out of the rowing shells and coach’s boats. The previous perpendicular linear dock was redesign as a T-shaped structure to allow more accessible launching and receiving of boats. The new dock location, along with the walkway and gangway, improved water access for locals.

By restoring local water access, the project reduced longer travel times to alternative locations with water access for the Columbia University crew teams and residents. The increased lifespan and durability of the new concrete dock system compared to a wood system ensure long-term sustainability. The project successfully restored waterfront access at Muscota Marsh, providing a durable, safe, and sustainable solution for both Columbia University and the local community.