Bldg 69, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY 11234
Phone: 718-338-3687 or 718-338-3575
Open All Year
Overview. Every vessel that ever approached New York Harbor from the Atlantic has had to make its way between the two sand spits that guard the New York-New Jersey estuary. Immigrants have been greeted by the sight of Sandy Hook and Rockaway Peninsula since the first Dutch settlers made their way to Manhattan Island. Within these two arms of land lie Jamaica Bay and Staten Island. The area has a rich natural and human history, from the Algonquin who made their homes along these shores to the forts, lighthouses, and airfields of more modern design; but the reason the National Park Service set these lands aside was to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the estuary, creating a place for humans and nature, for city and country, to coexist. While the three New York units of the park are accessible via subway, the area is rich in wildlife, clean beaches, and loads of recreational opportunities. What to see and do. The park is comprised of three units: Jamaica Bay, Staten Island, and Sandy Hook. Of these, Sandy Hook is the only unit in New Jersey. All three units are open year-round, with services such as fast-food concessions available from Memorial Day through the end of September. Gateway's three swimming beaches are guarded from mid-June through the Labor Day weekend. All units provide swimming, wildlife programs, hiking trails, surf fishing (no license required but state limits and regulations must be observed), and areas of historic significance. Breezy Point is at the tip of the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. Jacob Riis Park, located on the Atlantic, has one of the metropolitan area's best ocean beaches. Theatrical performances and crafts festivals are held on the mall in the park during spring and autumn. History buffs will want to visit Fort Tilden, originally established during the War of 1812, and sports enthusiasts have the opportunity to play baseball, football, handball, and a number of related games. A concessionaire operates a pitch-and-putt golf course at Jacob Riis Park. For more information, call the Ryan Visitor Center at 718-338-3687 or the Fort Tilden ranger station at 718-318-4300. Brooklyn's Jamaica Bay is home to the park's wildlife refuge with its more than 300 bird species either seasonally or permanently in residence. Fishing off Carnarsie Pier or the North Channel Bridge will usually yield a rewarding catch, but if you want to get out onto the open water, there's a marina at Dead Horse Bay. Horseback riding is available at Bergen Beach and aviation enthusiasts won't want to miss Floyd Bennett Field, New York City's first, albeit unsuccessful, commercial airport. Concessionaires offer miniature golf, a driving range, tennis courts, and a batting cage across Flatbush Avenue from Floyd Bennett Field. Great Kills Park, part of Gateway's Staten Island Unit, is situated on the site of an Algonquin village. Swimming, fishing, and walking trails are the primary pastimes here, but a series of educational nature programs is also a highlight. Weekend visitors can participate in a number of ranger-led walks that focus on the geology, bird life, or natural history of the area. Especially popular are the Monarch butterfly walks and the evening star watches. Miller Field, another part of the Staten Island Unit, was built after World War I as a base for seaplanes that directed coastal artillery fire. Today it is a site for picnics and field sports. Fort Wadsworth was recently added to the Staten Island unit. Standing at the mouth of New York Harbor, in the shadow of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, this fort is a former military post that defended New York Harbor for more than two centuries. Several gun batteries narrate the story of coastal defense. For more information, call the Staten Island Unit headquarters at 718-354-4634. Sandy Hook sports the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the U.S. Opened in 1764 to warn sailors of the treacherous passage through the Gateway, Sandy Hook Lighthouse was fully automated in 1965 and still guides ships into New York Harbor. It stands amid the remains of Fort Hancock, last of a series of forts to guard this strategic area. Surf fishing and swimming are popular activities, but you might also like to check out the holly forest, the best on the eastern seaboard. Osprey nest here in spring and summer. For more information about Sandy Hook, call 732-872-5970. Leashed pets are permitted at Gateway.
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