Ice damage closes Talisman-Barrett Beach Dock in Fire Island through summer, park service says

Fire Island’s Talisman-Barrett Beach Dock will be “closed to all public use” this summer because of how badly it was damaged by winter ice this year, according to an announcement from the National Park Service.

The dock is situated close to the middle of the Fire Island National Seashore, across the Great South Bay from Sayville. Boaters typically dock there during the summer and use the nearby boardwalk to travel toward Ocean Beach on the roadless island.

The “very cold” winter sent chunks of floating ice through the bay that severely damaged the dock, according to the park service, which wrote  its staffers are “assessing the extent of the damage to determine the best course of action.”

The agency “anticipates the dock will be closed through the busy summer season.” There is also “currently no timeline for restoration” of the dock, and the National Park Service will not be installing a temporary floating dock as an alternative, per Thursday’s announcement.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we evaluate the damage and explore possible solutions,” Deputy Superintendent Scott McCormick said in the park service’s news release.

Nearby public bathrooms will have “limited” access this season because of the damaged dock. There also will not be any lifeguards on duty at that beach and “it is recommended that all swimmers use guarded beaches at Watch Hill or Sailors Haven,” rather than swim in the area surrounding the dock, the agency said.

“It’s unfortunate that there was so much ice damage,” Suzy Goldhirsch, president of the Fire Island Association civic group, said on Friday. “The closure of the facility and also the lack of lifeguards will seriously impact the quality of visitation there.” 

The National Park Service said that anyone who plans to boat to Talisman-Barrett Beach should drop anchor in the bay because the water is "extremely shallow" around the dock and boaters should be cautious.

“We understand that the Talisman dock and beach are important resources for the community,” McCormick said in the announcement. “Safety remains our top priority, and we will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.”

By Sam Kmack

sam.kmack@newsday.com

Sam Kmack covers the Town of Islip for Newsday. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and previously worked as a city watchdog reporter in the Phoenix metro area, as well as an investigative journalist at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.