Jenness State Beach Redevelopment Project

The Jenness State Beach Bathhouse Project was completed in May 2019. The new bathhouse, increased the building footprint from 11 by 26 ft. to 26 by 40 ft., was completed in May2019. The new facility also increased the size of the men’s and women’s bathrooms, added a family changing room and doubled the square footage from 443 to 1040. The project was completed on budget and on time through funding of $1 million in capitalbudget funds and $200,000 of agency funds.
We wish to thank the Rye Community, project contractors, state and local elected officials and agencies for their support and assistance in making this bathhouse projects a success.

May 24, 2019

The new Jenness State Beach bathhouse is open for public use! Parking meters are in effect; there are two parking pay stations, one at the crosswalk and one by the bathhouse. Parking fee is $2.00/hour; coin or credit cards accepted. Four motorcycle parking spaces were added to the north end of the parking lot. The motorcycle spaces have a concrete pad to assist the stability of the motorcycles.

May 23, 2019

ALERT: Work is scheduled on the Jenness State Beach accessible ramp Wednesday May 29th – Friday May 31st. The bathrooms will remain open; however, guests can expect to hear construction noise and see workmen and equipment on site. An accessible port-a-potty will be placed on site. The new concrete will take a week to cure.

May 14, 2019

Save the Date ~ Jenness State Beach Ribbon Cutting
June 14, 2019, 1:30 pm
Final building, electrical and plumbing inspections will be happening this week. Parking line stripping and numbering will finish up once it stops raining! The contractor is on schedule to turn the site and building over to park operations next week and the facilities will open to the public on Friday May 23rd.

April 12, 2019

Permanent power and municipal water is hooked up to the new building! The beach access ramp is installed and the concrete plaza poured. Site lighting and parking bollards are installed in the parking lot, paving will begin next week. The doors, interior fixtures and toilet partitions are scheduled to be installed in the next two weeks. The parking lot will remain closed to vehicles and pedestrians until the lot is striped.

March 7, 2019

Interior framing, drywall and rough plumbing and electrical is complete and the interior finishes, fixtures, and partitions are next. The exterior siding, trim and stone veneer is nearly complete and the contractor is waiting for the ground to thaw to do grading. The construction fencing is expected to be reinstalled to encompass the whole site on March 18th for the site work to resume. Parking will once again be restricted on site and the contractor will make the pedestrian access to the beach available as much as they can.

Please Share! The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, through the Percent for Art program, is requesting proposals for existing and newly commissioned art and craft work for public spaces within the newly constructed Jenness State Beach Bathhouse in Rye. This RFP is made possible through funds generated for the State Arts fund and the Division of Parks and Recreation.

February 1, 2019

The interior slab has cured and work has begun on interior framing and plumbing and electrical rough in. The mason has started installing the stone veneer. Exterior trim and siding work will continue for the next three weeks.

January 10, 2019

In between storms since the last update the building has begun to really take shape. Doors and windows are being installed and roofing will begin shortly. Once the building is weather tight, the interior slab will be poured then interior finishes will start. Exterior siding and stone veneer work will begin in the coming weeks.

December 27, 2018

Since the last update the underground utilities have been completed and the foundation has been back filled. Walls were constructed last week and the roof trusses are being installed this week. Next week the building should have a roof then the doors and windows will be installed. Work will then begin on the inside. Wishing everyone a happy New Year!

November 26, 2018 Update

Parking lot grinding to begin 11/28/18 and be completed by 11/30/18
Public access to the beach will be restricted across the whole site
Jenness Beach can be accessed at:
- Sawyer Beach
- E Street: Foot path across from the Rye General Store and has two signs, one for the access name and the other “Beach Access”;
- Cable Road: Is a public road and has access to the beach at the end with beach permit only parking along the side. There are two signs at this location, one to name the street the other for “Beach Access”.

November 26, 2018 Update

Parking lot grinding to begin 11/28/18 and be completed by 11/30/18
Public access to the beach will be restricted across the whole site
Jenness Beach can be accessed at:
- Sawyer Beach
- E Street: Foot path across from the Rye General Store and has two signs, one for the access name and the other “Beach Access”;
- Cable Road: Is a public road and has access to the beach at the end with beach permit only parking along the side. There are two signs at this location, one to name the street the other for “Beach Access”.

October 18, 2018 Update

The past few weeks have been dedicated to excavation of the foundation, dewatering the hole and installing shoring along Ocean Boulevard. The foundation footings will be formed next week and poured the following week. Reclaiming the parking lot has been put on hold until the foundation can be back-filled mid-November, currently the excavated material is being stored in the parking lot.

October 1, 2018 Update

The bathhouse has been demolished and the contractor is preparing the site for the foundation installation. The old septic system will be removed and dewatering equipment brought in to remove groundwater as the foundation is formed and poured. Reclamation of the parking lot pavement is scheduled October 10-12, pedestrian access may be temporarily disrupted when machinery is working in the area.

Visitors to Jenness State Beach are warned to obey the “No Parking” signs placed along the beach side of the parking lot. Parking there makes it difficult for cars parked legally to back out safely and construction vehicles will be using the north parking lot exit making it hard for them to maneuver.

NOTE: The parking lot will be closed to public parking starting October 10th and is not expected to reopen until spring. A pedestrian access will be maintained at the north end of the parking lot. Visitors to the Jenness Beach area can park along Ocean Boulevard and use any of the designated beach access point.

September 19, 2018 Update

The Jenness State Beach redevelopment project began on Monday with the installation of the construction fence and marking of the accessible spaces. The parking lot is restricted to vehicles with a handicapped parking permit and can be entered at the north end of the lot. Visitors to the beach can park along Ocean Boulevard or on side streets, just be sure they are a legal parking space.

The Town owned sections of Jenness Beach can be accessed at the following points;

E Street: Foot path across from the Rye General Store and has two signs, one for the access name and the other “Beach Access”;
F Street: Is a public street and has access to the beach at the end. There are two signs at this location, one to name the street the other for “Beach Access”;
G Street: Originally designated as a Beach Access then later discovered this is a Private Right-of-Way and the signs were removed; although the residents do not mind foot traffic only to the beach;
Cable Road: Is a public road and has access to the beach at the end with beach permit only parking along the side. There are two signs at this location, one to name the street the other for “Beach Access”.

September 11, 2018 Update

There is a schedule change and the parking lot will be open for public use until Sunday 9/16. The bathhouse closed this past Sunday and portable toilets have been installed on site

The entire parking lot will be closed to all public Monday 9/17 and Tuesday 9/18 for restriping and construction fence installation.
Parking in the parking lot will be restricted to persons with disabilities and a handicapped placard or license plate is required; access will be from the north end of the lot.
There will be no drop-off or pick-up on site, visitors to the beach should find a parking space and walk to the beach.
Parking lot will be closed to the public after Columbus Day.

September 4, 2018 Update

Last day the Jenness Beach bathhouse will be open to the public is Sunday 9/9.
The parking lot will be closed to all public Thursday 9/13 and Friday 9/14 for restriping and construction fence installation.
Parking in the parking lot will be restricted to persons with disabilities and a handicapped placard or license plate is required; access will be from the north end of the lot.
There will be no drop-off or pick-up on site, visitors to the beach should find a parking space and walk to the beach.
Parking lot will be closed to the public after Columbus Day.

July 12, 2018 Update

The Governor and Executive Council approved the contract with Careno Construction Company on Wednesday 7/11/18. Work is expected to begin after Labor Day, updates about parking restrictions and other temporary closures will be shared weekly once work starts.

July 9, 2018 Update

On Wednesday July 11th the contract for the Jenness Bathhouse Replacement and Parking Lot Improvements will be on the agenda for the Governor and Executive Council meeting.

Agenda Item #56, Authorize the Division of Public Works Design and Construction to enter into a contract with Careno Construction Co., LLC, Portsmouth, NH, for the Jenness Bathhouse Replacement and Parking Lot Improvements, Rye, NH, for a total price not to exceed $998,400. Effective upon G&C approval through May 22, 2019. 51% General – Capital, 49% Other Funds. (2)Further authorize a contingency in the amount of $150,000 for unanticipated expense, bringing the total to $1,148,400. 69.55% General, 30.45% Other Funds. (3)Further authorize the amount of $45,000 for payment to the Department of Administrative Services, Division of Public Works Design and Construction, for engineering services provided, bringing the total to $1,193,400. 79% General – Capital, 21% Other Funds. (4)Further authorize the transfer of $5,000 to the State Art Fund within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, for the purchase of art for the Jenness Bathhouse, Rye, NH. 100% General – Capital Funds.

April 16, 2018 Update

Design and engineering is complete for the redesigned bathhouse and an invitation to bid has been issued by the NH Division of Public Works. Bids are due to the Division of Public Works on May 2, 2018 and work is expected to begin after Labor Day. Project completion date is May 22, 2019.

The Division of Parks and Recreation is still in the process of cleaning up Jenness State Beach after the 3 nor’easters that pummeled the seacoast in March. The sidewalk along the seawall was removed rather than repaired due to the extensive damage. Parking bumpers will be installed to prevent cars from parking against the seawall.

Visitors to the seacoast state parks should exercise caution as the storms created a number of hazards including debris, pavement upheaval, cracks and uneven surfaces. Park staff and contractors are working to repair damage and cleanup debris and the Division requests that visitors give staff and equipment room to work.

December 13, 2017 Update

The comment period for the 2017 Jenness State Beach bathhouse and site improvements proposed design closed in mid-September and since then we’ve reviewed each comment and evaluated which changes can be accommodated.

The following changes to the 2017 design will be implemented;

Widen the pedestrian walkway to 36 inches between the seawall and the bollard.
Widen the pedestrian passage from the parking lot to the bathhouse plaza.
Add a rack for surf boards at bathhouse for temporary storage when using facilities.
Provide motorcycle parking spaces.
Add pavement marking in no parking areas.
Add a third changing stall.
Add a pedestrian stile and access at north end of seawall to facilitate access to the beach.

You may know that there was a redevelopment plan for the site proposed in 2016 that for several reasons was not implemented.

There were five design changes from the original 2016 plan that are included the 2017 plan;

The square footage of the bathhouse has been reduced.
The length of the bathhouse along Ocean Boulevard has been reduced.
The cupola on the roof has been eliminated, reducing the total roof height.
The direction of travel will remain south to north in the parking lot.
The walkway along the seawall has been retained.

New timeline

Design Development: December 2017 – April 2018
Out-to-Bid: May 2018
Bid opening: June 2018
Governor and Council Approval: September 2018
Construction Start: September 2018
Construction Completion: June 2019

August 24, 2017

Many thanks to the attendees who came to the August 9th public information session. We would like to make a correction to the timeline presented at the meeting. The division will be attending the Rye Planning Board meeting on September 12th, not September 5th. The agenda for the September 12th planning board meeting is posted on their webpage.

Public Comment about the project is requested. Deadline to provide comment is September 15, 2017and may be sent to Johanna.Lyons@nh.gov.

July 2017 Update

The Division is pleased to announce that $1,000,000 in capital budget funding for the Jenness State Beach bathhouse has been appropriated in this biennium’s budget to construct a new toilet building and upgrade the parking lot. A public information session will be held on August 9, 2017, 6:00 pm at the Rye Public Library to discuss the design.

The Jenness State Beach bathhouse was constructed in 1980. There is a 70 car parking lot adjacent to the bathhouse; however, the facility serves a much greater population with over 400 cars parking along Ocean Boulevard, adjacent streets and in private lots (approximately 1,400 people per day) within a 15 minute walk.

The new design was the result of conversations the Division had with elected officials and other stakeholders about the Jenness Beach redevelopment project. A building and site design has been designed to accommodate the visitors to the beach that is also now fully compliant with current ADA standards. This design update incorporates suggestions by visitors and residents including keeping the parking lot direction the same, providing an universally accessible walkway along the seawall and limiting the length of the building along the roadway.

Below is a comparison of the existing facility the 2016 design and the NEW 2017 design.

	Existing Structure	2016 Proposed Facility	2017 Proposed Facility
Foot Print	11 feet by 36 feet	41 feet by 42 feet	26 feet by 40 feet
Square Feet	443 square feet	1,094 square feet	1,040 square feet
Height	10 feet	18 feet to ridge 25 feet to peak of cupola	17 feet 2 inches
Distance from Property Line	0 feet	28 feet	23 feet
Width Along Road	11 feet	41 feet	26 feet
Women's Room	4 toilets/1 sink	5 toilets/ 1 multiport sink	5 toilets/ 1 multiport sink
Men's Room	1 toilet/2 urinals/1 sink	2 toilets/3urinals 1 multiport sink	2 toilets/3urinals 1 multiport sink
Number of Family Bathrooms	0	1	1
Number of Changing Rooms	1 men's / 0 women's 3 unisex	4 unisex	2 unisex

Questions? Comments?
Johanna.Lyons@dred.nh.gov or 603-271-3556

May 2017 Update

The implementation of the Jenness Beach redevelopment project was delayed due to the filing of an injunction by the abutters for the construction of the bathhouse and parking lot improvements. While the decision by Merrimack County Superior Court was granted in the state’s favor in late November, it was too late for the contractor to meet the construction and budget schedule as planned to open the new facilities in June of 2017.

This past winter the Division has been in discussion with the Governor’s office, the legislature and other stakeholders about the Jenness Beach redevelopment project. In addition, we’ve been working with the design and engineering consultants to explore other sites and design for the facility. In the next few months, if funding is provided in the state capital budget, we will be reaching out to the public to discuss our plans. Thank you and have a great summer!

October 2016 Update

The Governor and Executive Council met today and approved the contract with SMART Assistive Technologies LLC for the Jenness Bathhouse replacement and parking lot improvements. At today’s meeting the Governor and Executive Councilors were given a schematic model to show the location, height and size of the new building (of course it is best to use the scaled site and construction plans for exact placement).

Senator Stiles Letter
Jenness Beach Bath Site Overlay Model
Jenness Beach Presentation August 31, 2016
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Site Plan (Revised) (4 MB)
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Plan Set, part 1 (7 MB)
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Plan Set, part 2 (9 MB)
State Fire Marshall Letter
Jenness Beach Project DES Waiver Letter
Rye Planning Board Meeting Minutes, May 10, 2016
Town of Rye Ocean Boulevard Corridor Parking Assessment Study
NH Coastal Byway Corridor Management Plan
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Permit Plan
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Wetlands Permit Application
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Schematic Plan (4 MB)
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Concept Plan (aerial view)
Jenness Beach Bathhouse Fact Sheet