Staten Island Beaches
The forgotten borough has unforgettable beaches and a very interesting history, including Freshkills Park, once the world’s largest landfill, now a 2,200 acre park in progress. With 9,300 acres of federal, state and city parkland, which includes several beaches, Staten Island is the greenest NYC borough.
To visit one of Staten Island’s beaches, you’ll need to take the Staten Island ferry or cross one of the four bridges that connect Staten Island to the rest of the world – Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge or Outerbridge Crossing.
Once you cross over, you won’t see any tall buildings for which the rest of New York City is famous. Instead, you’ll find New York City’s least populated borough covered by a peaceful bedroom community surrounded by many beautiful beaches.
Staten Island’s beaches provide a great escape from the chaos of everyday life. Each beach offers a special place to get away from the stresses of the world.
1. South Beach
South Beach is possibly the most popular beach on Staten Island. Free concerts and fireworks are but two reasons for its popularity. Aside from swimming and sunbathing, the beach features a fountain with six bronze dolphins illuminated by colorful lights after dark. It also has picnic areas and one of the city’s largest fishing piers, Ocean Breeze, which is 835 feet long.
South Beach contains a park especially designed for seniors with bocce ball courts and checkerboard tables, plus lots of benches.
South Beach shares the popular 2.5-mile-long Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and promenade with neighboring Midland Beach. Originally developed in the 1930s, the boardwalk is great for walking, jogging and biking. It offers fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean and New York Harbor.
2. Midland Beach
Midland Beach shares the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk with its South Beach neighbor. It offers activities for the kids including a playground and the sea turtle fountain; and for the adults, there are courts for shuffleball, handball and tennis. Swimming is allowed during beach season when lifeguards are on duty. The beach is wheelchair accessible with beach mats available for wheelchair use. During the summer, the beach comes alive with celebrations. Enjoy live music, fireworks, outdoor movies and sand castle building contests.
You can also enjoy fishing from the Midland Beach Fishing Pier, the largest steel-and-concrete recreational pier built on the Atlantic Ocean. Anglers have enjoyed hooking sand sharks, summer flounder and striped bass. All fishing is catch and release. Bottlenose dolphins are occasionally spotted.
While there, visit the Veteran’s Memorial honoring Staten Island residents who served and died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
3. The Beach at Wolfe’s Pond Park
Wolfe’s Pond Beach offers a nice clean beach area and is home to a wide variety of wildlife and marine animals. The coastline is home to the Brant Goose, the Gray gull, the Herring gull and the Laughing gull. It is also has horseshoe crabs, blue mussels and Quahog clams, making it a great place for shell collecting.
Wolfe’s Pond Beach has a fishing pier for the fishing enthusiast. Swimming is allowed during the summer when lifeguards are on duty. Barbecue areas make it easy to spend the whole day at the beach. Wide trails are available for jogging and walking. The beach is wheelchair accessible with beach mats provided for wheelchair use.
4. Great Kills Beach
Great Kills Beach, located in the Gateway National Recreation Area, is a beautiful beach with various activities for the family including nature trails, a paved multi-use path and a model airplane field. The multi-use path is wheelchair accessible, begins at the entrance to Great Kills Park extending 1.5 miles to the Beach Center and allows bicycles and rollerblades. It is popular with walkers and joggers, but is unlit at night.
Surf and shore fishing is allowed, as is swimming when lifeguards are on duty. The shoreline offers excellent birdwatching opportunities.
5. Cedar Grove Beach
Cedar Grove Beach is New York City’s newest beach. This charming beach, once an oceanfront bungalow colony, offers a clear view of the Manhattan bridge. Smaller than the neighboring beaches of South Beach and Midland Beach, it has become popular with families living in the area.
Swimming is allowed during beach season when lifeguards are on duty. The beach is wheelchair accessible with beach mats provided for wheelchair use.
6. Fort Wadsworth Beach
Fort Wadsworth Beach, located in the Gateway National Recreation Area, has a playground, picnic areas and a bike trail. Venture to the bluffs and fields of Fort Wadsworth for excellent birdwatching opportunities.
The Brielle
Although not directly on the beach, The Brielle is a great destination for those looking to retire in a park-like setting. Imagine living in The Brielle’s natural wooded oasis and easily visiting one of Staten Island’s many beaches. Come see what The Brielle has to offer. Give us a call today!