NYS Cabins

SOURCES OF PUBLIC FINANCING The NYS Cabins were funded by Governor Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 initiative with full funding by New York State (as a NYS initiative). The plan is part of a multi-year commitment since 2011 to restore facilities, enhance visitor experience, update signage and create better access for tourists at parks across the State; the plan follows a seven-point framework that will leverage approximately $900 million in public and private funding to modernize the State park system.

SUBMITTED BY WXY architecture + urban design | New York, NY

Photo Credits | © Albert Vecerka/Esto

New Construction | Award of Distinction NYS Cabins | Long Island, New York

POSITIONING NEW YORK STATE PARKS AS A TOP RECREATION DESTINATION

Modernizing Wildwood State Park with New Cabins and Cottages.

Funded by Governor Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 initiative, New York State Parks commissioned the design team to design the first vacation cabins and cottages at Wildwood State Park on Long Island, with 10 cabins ranging in size from 670 to 784 square feet. The new vacation cabins are designed to provide high quality, affordable accommodations at Wildwood State Park on the Long Island Sound. The exteriors of the cabins are clad in cedar shingles, with reclaimed mahogany detailing and metal roofing, allowing the structures to fit seamlessly with existing Works Progress Administration (WPA) cabins that date from the 1930s. The cabins feature both one and two bedroom units, as well as a bathroom, kitchenette, screened outdoor porch and furnishings. The more open, wider floor plans are better suited for large families and meet modern ADA requirements. Inside, the cabin is bright with plenty of natural light, equipped with large windows and unfinished natural wood surfaces, a reaction to older structure’s often dark and cramped layout. Durable, solid furniture, and a lack of ornamentation, speak to longevity and easy maintenance. What is the greater social value of the submission? This project was funded to revitalize NYS Parks by investing in outdoor recreation areas, with the hopes of positioning New York State as a top recreation destination; the cabins were funded to enhance the experience of the Wildwood State park for all visitors, modernizing the campgrounds for continual use while also developing the park into a local economic engine.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

“We wanted to have a dialogue with the past, but not try to recreate it. It’s a prototype that will go into parks where other cabins from the past already exist, and they need to harmonize together.”

Angelyn Chandler, Former Deputy Commissioner, New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The structures were designed with longevity in mind and will provide and serve camp-goers for many years to come. All cabins are prefabricated offering utility and ease of installation, allowing them to be replicated and used throughout the state; their prototypes were conscientiously designed to establish a framework that the park service can use for future instances, providing an example of how design excellence can be applied to public space. n