Gateway National Recreation Area

United_States

Gateway National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in Metro New York. This 26,607 acre (107.67 km²) park has four separate areas located in three boroughs of New York City and on Sandy Hook in central New Jersey.

The National Park Service administers Gateway in four units:

  • Jamaica Bay Unit includes much of the coastline below Shore Parkway (also known as Belt Parkway) between Plum Beach and JFK International Airport, including Floyd Bennett Field.
  • Breezy Point Unit on the western end of Rockaway Peninsula and including Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park.
  • Staten Island Unit, Ft. Wadsworth, Miller Field and Great Kills sections on Staten Island's south shore.
  • Sandy Hook Unit, the northern end of the barrier peninsula of the same name.

Gateway was established on October 27, 1972 as the country's first urban national park. Jamaica Bay had been developed as a wildlife refuge by the New York City Parks Department beginning in the early 1950s with the creation of two large ponds and the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses. This excellent and extensive refuge is combined in Gateway NRA with much military history.

Floyd Bennett Field is significant in the history of civil and military aviation. It was New York City's first municipal airport. Floyd Bennett Field as Naval Air Station New York defended the nation and its ships from 1941 to 1971. Fort Tilden is the last of a long line of fortifications that stood on the Rockaway peninsula, ready to defend the United States from attack from the sea and air. The site witnessed the use of the most technologically advanced weaponry of the period including smooth-bore cannons, 16-inch naval rifles, and anti-aircraft missiles.

Jacob Riis Park was the site of Rockaway Naval Air Station, significant for its relationship to the famous NC-4 crossing of the Atlantic. This historic crossing changed commercial aviation.

Fort Wadsworth, important military high ground since the 1600s, was the oldest continuously used military site in the country when closed in 1994. Still used by the Coast Guard today it displays remnants of old fortifications.

Miller Field gained recognition as an airfield during World War I. Today the Elm Tree Light and an airplane hangar are all that remain, but dozens of athletic fields provide recreational opportunities.

Fort Hancock's guns and missile defenses and Sandy Hook Light also had a part in defending New York Harbor.

Estuary, salt marsh and coastal upland wildlife sanctuary, ocean beaches, barrier beach peninsulas, airstrip, historical military fortifications.

As the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge area (over 9,000 acres) has been managed as a sanctuary for decades, it is teeming with wildlife. Maps, guides, trail brochures and display rooms are available in the Visitor Center. Park Rangers give interpretive talks and lead nature walks year-round. Trails, benches, blinds and gardens provide "habitat" for human visitors. In 1980 a butterfly reserve was set aside and planted with attractant plants. Native species of frogs and peepers have been reintroduced. Egrets, heron, ibis and other waterfowl abound in the salt marshes. Tree swallows, kestrels, wrens, osprey, and a large population of barn owls also have been encouraged. In all, over 325 species of birds have been recorded here. All the usual shoreline and coastline suspects such as crabs, mollusks, and turtles are found here, too.

Reed grasses, beach grasses and native meadow plants such as bayberry and milkweed are found here as well. The "Upland Trail", in particular, explores some of the bushes and trees such as the Autumn Olive, Hackberry, Japanese Black Pine, Tree of Heaven, Eastern White Pine, Black Cherry, European Alder, Gray Birch, Sassafras, Holly and others.

  • Northern coastal temperate. Temperatures range from usual highs of 80 to 90°F (27 to 32°C) during the summer, to usual lows of 10 to 20°F (-7 to -12°C) in winter.

Jamaica Bay Unit includes much of the coastline below Shore Parkway (also known as Belt Parkway) between Plum Beach and JFK International Airport, including Floyd Bennett Field.

Breezy Point Unit on the western end of Rockaway Peninsula and including Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park.

Staten Island Unit, Ft. Wadsworth, Miller Field and Great Kills sections on [[Staten Island]]'s south shore.

[[Sandy Hook|Sandy Hook Unit]], the northern end of the barrier peninsula of the same name.

  • Gateway has no entrance fees. However, beach parking fees are charged at Sandy Hook (+1 732-872-5970) and Jacob Riis Park (+1 718-318-4300) during the summer. Day and annual passes are available.
  • Fishing permit, $50 Annual fee. There are fees for parking in fishing lots at all Gateway sites. Permits are available at Gateway Visitor Centers/Ranger Stations.

Gateway has no entrance fees. However, beach parking fees are charged at Sandy Hook (+1 732-872-5970) and Jacob Riis Park (+1 718-318-4300) during the summer. Day and annual passes are available.

Fishing permit, $50 Annual fee. There are fees for parking in fishing lots at all Gateway sites. Permits are available at Gateway Visitor Centers/Ranger Stations.

  • Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Cross Bay Boulevard Queens, New York, +1 718 318-4340. Year-round 8:30AM-5PM. Exhibits on the natural history of the area and an explanation of how this bird sanctuary was created in the 1950s. Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.
  • Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field, Flatbush Avenue, South Brooklyn, New York, +1 718 338-3799. Year-round 8:30AM-5PM. An historic airstrip showing early airport architecture. Most guided visitor program start from the Ryan Visitor Center. Special use permits are also available here. Restrooms.
  • Canarsie Pier Contact Station, Belt Parkway, Exit 13, Brooklyn, New York, +1 718 763-2202. Year-round 9AM-4:30PM. Restrooms, visitor information.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Cross Bay Boulevard Queens, New York, +1 718 318-4340. Year-round 8:30AM-5PM. Exhibits on the natural history of the area and an explanation of how this bird sanctuary was created in the 1950s. Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.

Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field, Flatbush Avenue, South Brooklyn, New York, +1 718 338-3799. Year-round 8:30AM-5PM. An historic airstrip showing early airport architecture. Most guided visitor program start from the Ryan Visitor Center. Special use permits are also available here. Restrooms.

Canarsie Pier Contact Station, Belt Parkway, Exit 13, Brooklyn, New York, +1 718 763-2202. Year-round 9AM-4:30PM. Restrooms, visitor information.

  • Jacob Riis Park Visitor Contact Station, Rockaway, New York, +1 718 318-4300. Memorial Day to Labor Day. Restrooms, visitor information, first aid.

Jacob Riis Park Visitor Contact Station, Rockaway, New York, +1 718 318-4300. Memorial Day to Labor Day. Restrooms, visitor information, first aid.

This area is on the south shore of Staten Island.

  • Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center, Bay Street, Staten Island, New York, +1 718 354-4500. Year-round: W-Su 10AM-5PM. Ranger-led programs start from the visitor center. Exhibits and 12-minute film on the history of New York's harbor defense system. Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.
  • Miller Field Ranger Station, New Dorp Lane Staten Island, New York, +1 718 351-6970. Year-round 8:30AM-5PM. An historic former airfield. Ranger-led programs start from the ranger station. Restrooms.
  • Great Kills Park Ranger Station, Great Kills Park, Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, +1 718 987-6790. Year-round F-M 9AM-4:30PM. Some ranger-led programs start at the station. Call for details. Restrooms are not available at the ranger station, but are available throughout Great Kills Park.
  • Hoffman Island.
  • Swinburne Island.

Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center, Bay Street, Staten Island, New York, +1 718 354-4500. Year-round: W-Su 10AM-5PM. Ranger-led programs start from the visitor center. Exhibits and 12-minute film on the history of New York's harbor defense system. Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.

Miller Field Ranger Station, New Dorp Lane Staten Island, New York, +1 718 351-6970. Year-round 8:30AM-5PM. An historic former airfield. Ranger-led programs start from the ranger station. Restrooms.

Great Kills Park Ranger Station, Great Kills Park, Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, +1 718 987-6790. Year-round F-M 9AM-4:30PM. Some ranger-led programs start at the station. Call for details. Restrooms are not available at the ranger station, but are available throughout Great Kills Park.

Hoffman Island.

Swinburne Island.

Sandy Hook is extremely popular in summer with more than 5,000 visitors on beach days. Parking is $10 per car ($50 per season). Arrive early (or late) to be sure of a parking spot. Open dawn to dusk. No pets. Food concessions are available. Alcohol is allowed on this Federal park, unlike most New Jersey beaches. Clothing optional areas are marked.

  • Sandy Hook Visitor Center, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, +1 732 872-5970. Year-round 10AM-5PM. Exhibits on the natural history of the area, and exhibits on the history of the U.S. Life Saving Service (which later became the US Coast Guard.) Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.
  • Fort Hancock Museum. Daily 1PM-5PM. In the former post guardhouse.
  • Sandy Hook Lighthouse. The oldest continuously operating lighthouse in America (1764).
  • Gunnison Beach. A clothing optional beach.

Sandy Hook Visitor Center, Sandy Hook, New Jersey, +1 732 872-5970. Year-round 10AM-5PM. Exhibits on the natural history of the area, and exhibits on the history of the U.S. Life Saving Service (which later became the US Coast Guard.) Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.

Fort Hancock Museum. Daily 1PM-5PM. In the former post guardhouse.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse. The oldest continuously operating lighthouse in America (1764).

Gunnison Beach. A clothing optional beach.

  • Beach activities: swimming, sailing, surfing and fishing.
  • Learning about ecosystems and their relationship to city life.
  • Bird watching, beach clean-ups and nature talks.
  • Hiking and cycling.
  • Touring historic military sites.
  • Gardening, photography and poetry readings.
  • Opera, symphony, and contemporary music and cultural festivals.
  • Organized athletics: soccer, football, baseball, tennis and cricket.

  • There are concessions at Sandy Neck. Some visitor centers have picnic areas and vending. Food may not be brought into the Wildlife Refuge trails.