Construction officially begins on Riverhead’s long-awaited Town Square

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Riverhead’s long-envisioned Town Square is officially underway.

Town officials gathered downtown Friday, Dec. 12, to break ground on the transformative project — a milestone more than a decade in the making. They also announced that the Town Square is expected to be completed within two years.

The project marks the start of a major reimagining of Main Street and the Peconic Riverfront, backed largely by more than $24 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, plus millions more in state support.

“Today we celebrate morethan just the start of construction; we celebrate the realization of a vision that has been 30 years
in the making,” said Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard. “The Riverhead Town Square will be the economic, social and cultural epicenter that our downtown desperately needed—a place that will bring community members together, boost local businesses, attract visitors, and reconnect us with the natural beauty of our waterfront.”

What’s coming to downtown

The Town Square will feature three core components previously outlined by town officials:
• A public plaza at street level
• A playground and splash pad closer to the Peconic River
• A performance amphitheater for concerts and community events

Each of these elements has also been designed to double as flood mitigation infrastructure recommended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Petrocelli Development Associates is serving as the master developer. The firm is also designing a boutique hotel slated for the eastern edge of the Town Square.

Another $1.4 million in New York State funding, awarded through the governor’s Pro-Housing program, will support construction of the amphitheater.

An additional $4.6 million will go toward walkability upgrades throughout downtown Riverhead — including new sidewalks, curb bump-outs, street furniture, crosswalks and landscaping.

@greaterlongisland
Riverhead broke ground today on its downtown revitalization project, which will bring new green spaces, an amphitheater, mixed-use commercial space, a boutique hotel, and more to the area.
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