Gateway

https://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_National_Recreation_Area Gateway National Recreation Area is located in New York City and Monmouth County, New Jersey. It provides recreational opportunities that are rare in a dense urban environment, including ocean swimming, bird watching, boating, hiking and camping. Ten million people visit Gateway annually. The area preserves and protects scarce or unique natural, cultural, and recreational resources with relatively convenient access by a high percentage of the nation's population. Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for millions of visitors every year. Gateway offers green spaces and beaches alongside historic structures and cultural landscapes. Every day, Gateway is open for you to explore, envision, and enjoy! Gateway is located in two states; NJ and NY, and has three units: Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook and Staten Island. You can access most of our park by car and public transportation. Please visit our website for specific directions to all of our units Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Learn about one of the oldest military installations in the nation on the northeastern shore of Staten Island. Driving Directions From the east: Take Verrazano - Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn. Stay in right lane and take the Bay Street exit to the park entrance. From the west: Take either the Goethals or Bayonne Bridge from New Jersey to the Staten Island Expressway (Interstate 278) Staten Island Expressway (Interstate 278) east to the Lily Pond Ave. exit. Turn left at the light and follow this road to Bay Street and the park entrance. Public Transportation Take the S51 from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is the gateway to this 900-acre preserve, home to salt marshes, uplands, open bay and beach areas, and two man-made ponds, all supporting hundreds of species of plant and wildlife. The one story, flat-roofed building contains a ranger desk, colorful exhibits on the eco-system of the surrounding area, a classroom, a bookstore, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, water fountains, and tactile, hands-on nature exhibits. Restrooms are open when the visitor center is Off of Cross Bay Boulevard. From the North, East, and West the Visitor Contact Station is approximately 1.5 miles past the bridge on the right. From the South (and alternate route from other directions): Beach Channel Drive to the Cross Bay - Veterans Memorial Bridge. Cross the bridge toward Broad Channel. Follow Cross Bay Boulevard through Broad Channel, about 1 mile. Turn left at traffic light into the Visitor Contact Station parking lot. Ryan Visitor Center The Visitors Center, once New York City's first airport terminal, now houses a ranger desk, a bookstore, bathrooms, and many exhibits on the history of aviation, particularly here at Floyd Bennett Field, as well as exhibits about the ecosystems and flora and fauna of the New York Harbor area. From the North, East and West Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 11S (Flatbush Avenue) Follow Flatbush Avenue south to the last light before the Marine Parkway Bridge toll plaza. Turn left at the light, into the park. From the South Woodhaven Boulevard to Cross Bay Boulevard. West on Beach Channel Drive to the Marine Parkway Bridge (towards Brooklyn.) Turn right at the first traffic light after the toll plaza into the park. Sandy Hook Visitors Centers- Lighthouse Keepers Quarters Discover information about the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the U.S. at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse Keepers Quarters GPS address: 128 South Hartshorne Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732. At the entrance to the park you may find speed bumps. Fort Wadsworth Campsite The Fort Wadsworth Campground is currently closed. Fort Wadsworth Camping Fees 30.00 $30 per night for a maximum of 14 nights. Each site can accommodate up to six people. CAMP GATEWAY - STATEN ISLAND CAMP GATEWAY - STATEN ISLAND- THINGS TO DO FORT WADSWORTH BATTERY WEED- THINGS TO DO Camp Office at entrance of Park at New York Avenue and Bay Street, Staten Island, 10305 CAMP GATEWAY - STATEN ISLAND H4 CAMP GATEWAY- STATEN ISLAND View of the campground with bridge in background- campsites have full sun Sandy Hook Camp Ground 20 tent campsites are available at Sandy Hook for seasonal camping. The season typically runs from mid April through late October. Sandy Hook Camping Fee 30.00 $30 per night, $210 per week $15 per night, $105 per week with Access or Senior Pass. The camping fee does not include the beach parking fee. Beach parking at Sandy Hook is $15 per day from the weekend before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Sandy Hook Camping Fee with Access or Senior Pass 15.00 $15 per night $105 per week with Senior or Access Pass. Camping fees do not include parking fees. Parking for Sandy Hook beaches is $15 per day from the weekend before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fishing Poles at North Beach Campsite with 2 bicycles Bird watching on the bay Piping Plover The view of New York City from the beach at Sandy Hook Windsurfers at bayside beaches Umbrella and Chair on beach Male surfing a wave on a surfboard at Beach Area C Osprey perched on a tree branch 2 Park visitors walking on the beach at Horseshoe Cove while the sun is setting Two park visitors seining while the sun is setting Bicyclists on Multi-Use Path You can camp at all three units of Gateway Tent at Floyd Bennett Field campsite in Gateway's Jamaica Bay unit. You can camp at all three units of Gateway, in the shadow of NYC. Enjoying a summer's day at Jacob Riis Park Visitors enjoying the sun and sand at Jacob Riis Park Millions of visitors visit Gateway's beaches every summer. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is the only wildlife refuge in the National Park Service The Sandy Hook Lighthouse The Sandy Hook lighthouse and keepers quarters The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States. Battery Weed Battery Weed is the fort under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in Staten Island. Battery Weeds guards the entrance to the New York harbor. Shirley Chisholm State Park Opens in NYC Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the opening of the state's newest and largest public park in New York City, the 407-acre Shirley Chisholm State Park along the shores of Jamaica Bay. The new park honors Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, an educator, former representative of the 12th Congressional district in New York for seven terms and the first African American woman to run for president. The park is a signature project of Governor Cuomo's Vital Brooklyn Initiative. Mural showing Shirley Chisholm with flowers and a butterfly NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Gateway National Recreation Area, New York and New Jersey Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. shoreline and bay Louis Brignola, Post Barber and Joseph Tomaine, Civilian Employee Beep Bop Boop. Ed Biedermann, 7th and 245th Coast Artillery, 1941-45 Ed Biedermann, 7th and 245th Coast Artillery, 1941-45 Vincenzo J. Alfano, 7th Coast Artillery Oral History of Vincenzo Alfano. Martin Becker, 7th Coast Artillery Martin Becker, 7th Coast Artillery Innovative Defenses at Fort Tilden and Rockaway Naval Air Station during WWI Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. Two sites that made up New York Harbor’s coastal defense system -- Fort Tilden and the Rockaway Naval Air Station, located in present-day Jacob Riis Park -- proved critical in this role during World War I. Part of a larger coastal defense system dating to the 18th century, Fort Tilden and Rockaway Naval Air Station helped protect the homeland during World War I against some of the most advanced weapons systems of the time. Grainy black-and-white aerial photograph of buildings clustered around the seashore Coastal Defense: Fort Hancock during World War I When the US declared war on Germany in 1917, coastal fortifications like Fort Hancock quickly sprung into action to defend the nation against possible threats. The fort activated from a sleepy post to a center of wartime mobilization in a matter of months. Three soldiers in World War I uniforms hold flags at Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, New Jersey Keys to Tomorrow: Chris Gobler studies storm impacts, resilience, and restoration opportunities in coastal parks After Hurricane Sandy, there was noticeable effects to the bodies of water surrounding Long Island and NYC, including changes in color and clarity. With NPS funding, Dr. Dhris Gobler of Stony Brook University examined water quality change in these coastal ecosystems and its effects on keystone species such as shellfish. Ultimately, Gobler hopes to refine our understandings of complex storm impacts and illuminate sound options for restoration and resilience. The research vessel cuts through waves at sunset in Jamaica Bay. Find Your Park 2019 ad campaign starts with parks in NYC and San Francisco In the fall of 2019, the National Park Foundation rolled out new ads in San Francisco and New York for the Find Your Park campaign. From September 23 through October 28, a series of digital and static outdoor ads appeared in bus shelters, billboards, and other spaces in the city of New York and San Francisco. display ads featuring John Muir National Historic Site Protecting Coastal Treasures from Future Floods Protecting coastal treasures like lighthouses, forts, and statues requires an understanding of the precise location of these resources. New elevation markers will help the National Park Service continue to protect coastal parks threatened by flooding and sea level rise. Two men use tools to install elevation markers in sandy soil. National Park Service Staff Explore Strategies for Success at Leadership Conference With a goal of creating better leaders and promoting gender balance, the 2016 Women and Leadership Conference introduced influential policy and business leaders who shared their insights and offered tools to help participants become leaders in their respective fields. A group of men and women stand in front of a blue curtain and an Andrus Center banner. Rolling RFP for Buildings at Fort Hancock The National Park Service is requesting proposals to lease multiple historic buildings for any compatible use of historic buildings, (such as residential, lodging, or business use related to residential or lodging use), commercial use, or nonprofit within Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark, in the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Fort Hancock Officers Row at dusk Renovation of Canarsie Pier Playground Canarsie pier is a major recreation site for the local community. Over time the playground equipment became unsafe, and the playground was closed. This project repaired the base underneath the playground and replaced the playground equipment. The playground is now open for fun. Canarsie Playground has been re-opened Restoration of Wise Clock aka Riis Park Memorial Clock The Wise Clock, also known as the Riis Park Memorial Clock, returned to the promenade June 5, 2019, after almost a year of restoration work. Visitors can see the refurbished work of art on the boardwalk at the east end of the Riis Park main beach. Restored Wise Clock at Riis Beach Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Species Spotlight: Atlantic Horseshoe Crab Every spring, crabs with prehistoric origin congregate on the shorelines and shallows of Gateway National Recreation Area. The Atlantic horseshoe crab was made famous when scientists discovered its blood contained blood-clotting capabilities, and over-harvesting soon began. Climate change, sea-level rise, and human development of shorelines have created additional stress on the crabs. Annual monitoring surveys are conducted to ensure the well-being of their populations. Atlantic horseshoe crabs converge on a beach to breed at dusk. Rehabilitation of Sandy Hook Lighthouse The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States. Over time the lighthouse began to leak, which stained the exterior. This project repaired the leak, improved visitor accessibility, and removed the staining. Sandy Hook Lighthouse Gateway National Recreation Area and New Jersey Forest Fire Service co host first Interagency WUI Drill Wildland Urban Interface drill at Gateway's Sandy Hook Crews from various NJ fire departments conduct WUI drill in Sandy Hook Gateway Lights the Way for Pollinators! Gateway National Recreation Area hummed with excitement during National Pollinator Week. On June 22, Education Specialist Dan Meharg joined our National Wildlife Federation (NWF) partners and Daymond John, beekeeper and host of the TV show Shark Tank to light the iconic Empire State Building in yellow and black stripes. People are kneeling and working with the plants in the garden. Studying Shifting Shorelines at Northeast Coastal Parks Coastal national parks have long been a living laboratory for shoreline scientists to study how storms and other processes like erosion and littoral drift affect the coast and the structures perched along the water. Learn more about the science of shifting shorelines. View of beach and dunes. Mapping Underwater Habitats With so much diversity and value in underwater habitats, it’s no wonder the National Park Service undertook a multi-park effort to map the relatively uncharted shallow waters in and around coastal national parks in the Northeast. Learn more and see what lies beneath. A woman leans over the edge of a boat with a submerged habitat mapping tool. Studying Salt Marsh Change A marsh resiliency model was developed to help managers protect salt marshes at coastal parks in the Northeast. Jamaica Bay at sunset. Golden Age of Aviation at the Forefront in Renovated Visitor Center The “golden age of aviation” returned to Gateway's Floyd Bennett Field in 2012, when the William Fitts Ryan Visitor Center reopened to the public. The visitor center orients newcomers to Floyd Bennett Field. Paintings and panels depicting modes of transportation from the steam engine to the dirigible were restored to their 1939 appearance. Exhibits show artifacts from the airfield’s famed aviators, such as Amelia Earhart and Wiley Post. A close up view of the ceiling and upper part of a wall showing stained glass and painted murals 2006 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2006 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards A Fire Management Program Four Years in the Making Fire Management program, four years in the making Third System of Coastal Forts How should a country protect its borders? The United States had to consider this question when the War of 1812 ended in 1815. One year later, the federal government believed it had an answer. The nation created a broad national defense strategy that included a new generation of waterfront defenses called the Third System of Coastal Fortifications. Seacoast Ordnance Cannon manufactured for use in Third System forts are called seacoast ordnance. These were some of the largest and heaviest cannon available at the time. Cannon at forts Pickens, McRee, Barrancas, Massachusetts, and Advanced Redoubt fell into three categories: guns, howitzers, and mortars. Each had a specific purpose. A cannon is mounted over a brick wall, an American flag is flying to the left. After Sandy, National Parks get storm-ready: Park scientists muster elevation data and enhance information systems to prepare for future storms Dr. Peter August, a University of Rhode Island professor who specializes in GIS, has collaborated with the National Park Service (NPS) for over 20 years. After Hurricane Sandy, August led the team that created the very first bytes of GIS data for several National Parks in the northeast coastal region. They gathered essential elevation data and established a data management system so that coastal parks will be better prepared for future storms. August uses laser rangefinder to determine the distance to an object in the field. Films to Promote Unity and Healing: Filmmaker Sarah Gulick engages people in the science behind resilience In the summer of 2015, Sarah Gulick traveled to Fire Island National Seashore and parts of Gateway National Recreation Area to see some early traces of recovery and signs of resilience following Hurricane Sandy and to document NPS’s efforts to mitigate future storm impacts. Her mission: to create a a pair of short films that document the work of researchers who are contributing to federal projects launched in response to Hurricane Sandy. researchers wearing hip boots stand with camera equipment while in a marsh Sounding Seafloor Habitats: Researchers use sonar to map the underwater resources of four National Parks Researchers, including Monique LaFrance, take part in a landmark mission in four coastal National Parks to map thousands of acres of underwater habitats that have never been surveyed. Together, the four habitat-mapping teams will create maps to help coastal parks in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Maryland better prepare for damaging storms and sea level rise. researcher with equipment aboard a research vessel National Parks Defend America's Coast During World War II Many national park sites joined the war effort in World War II by erecting Aircraft Warning, radio and radar stations. Some historic forts came to life with coastal defenses ready to defend the nation. color photo of explosion atop a fort wall, ocean beyond Series: Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Species Spotlight Learn more about species that call national parks within the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN) home! a peregrine falcon takes flight from the beach at Assateague Island National Seashore. Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Loretta Reilly Hoffman This is the oral history of Loretta Reilly Hoffman. Loretta was a member of the Women's Army Corps stationed at Fort Hancock in 1944. Lorretta Reilly Hoffman Mary Heckendorn Mary Duff Heckendorn (top left) working at post library orientation map. WACs and soldiers working on a map Rolling Request for Proposals for Buildings at Fort Hancock The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting proposals to lease multiple historic buildings for any compatible use of historic buildings at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. This is a rolling solicitation. The NPS will continue to accept responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP) until all buildings available under these RFP are leased or the NPS discontinues this solicitation. Historic Officers Row Buildings May Siciliano May Siciliano was a civilian employee of the Signal Corps Radar at Fort Hancock. Photo of women from WW II ra John Borris John Boris was a soldier in the U.S. Army 136 Company. He was stationed at Sandy Hook's Fort Hancockbetween 1912 and 1914. Group of pre WW I soldiers at Fort Hanock Alfred Bricca Alfred Bricca served at Fort Hancock in 1917. Lander W Radford Lander Radford served at Fort Hancock between 1906 and 1912. Battery gun with group of soldiers Frederick Repole Frederick Repole served in the 26th Coast Artillery Band. WWI Soldiers posing in front of Barracks Diane Harris Dayson Diane Harris was initially reluctant to pursue a Park Service career. However, she soon found that national parks were "in her blood". Her 26-year career saw her rise from clerk to superintendent at one of our most iconic national monuments. Diane Dayson wearing the NPS uniform with badge and ranger flat hat. 50th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt Do you know your parks!? Celebrate 50 years with this fun activity including trivia from Glen Canyon, Gateway and Golden Gate National Recreation Areas. Valerie Fernandes Valerie Fernandes joined the National Park Service (NPS) in hopes of leaving behind paperwork and “doing something different every day.” She went on to break down barriers for women in the NPS, serving as the one of the first woman horse-mounted officers and becoming the first woman US Park Police lieutenant and captain. Valerie Fernandes in Park Police uniform and cowboy hat. Jane P. Marshall Jane P. Marshall began working for the National Park Service (NPS) as a "kiosk kutie" on the National Mall in the late 1960s. At the persistent urging of a couple of patrolmen, she joined the US Park Police (USPP) in 1973. Two years later she became the first USPP policewoman to be shot in the line of duty. Although her recovery was long and she suffered permanent injuries, she returned to work. She enjoyed a long career, becoming the second woman lieutenant in USPP history. Jane P. Marshall wearing her US Park Police uniform. Gateway National Recreation Area completes fuels treatment to protect hundreds of homes In February 2022, Gateway NRA completed a hazard fuels reduction project in Queens, NY around a large, densely populated neighborhood near Jamaica Bay. It established both a fuel break and defensible space should a wildfire ignite. A mowed area near a neighborhood. Tipping the Scales The 1970s saw the expansion of US Park Police (USPP) units, responsibilities, and force size. Equal employment opportunities resulted in more women and minority officers joining the rapidly evolving organization. Although policewomen were still a small percentage of the force, their numbers began to increase in the mid-1970s. They weren’t always accepted by their fellow officers, however, and many faced discrimination and hostile work environments. US Park Police officers, including seven women, pose in their uniforms for their class photo. 2021 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service On behalf of the Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers Directorate, we are pleased to congratulate the national recipients of the 2021 George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Through their extraordinary work and dedication, these volunteers have made an exceptional contribution to their parks and communities. Digital painting with white text invitation to join the Hartzog Awards. Helping Islands Stay on a “Budget” National island parks in the Gulf of Mexico are hemorrhaging sand at an increasing rate. Here's how we slow the bleeding. Man in NPS uniform climbs onto a damaged seaside road from the ocean side Staff Spotlight: Shalini Gopie Meet Shalini Gopie, the Interpretive and Digital Media Specialist for the Interpretation, Education, Youth, and Volunteer Division of the Pacific West Region! Two female rangers in flathats and National Park Service uniform. Fort Tilden Virtual Visit Fort Tilden was established in 1917. It was part of a network of coastal fortifications in New York and New Jersey designed to protect New York Harbor. The fort was staffed by various companies of the Coast Artillery Corps. Battery Kessler initially completed in 1923, but later modernized and made permanent in 1942. Battery 220 was completed in 1943 as part of the modernization of the fort. Explore the two batteries via HDP’s animations and archival HAER documentation. Measured drawing of military battery floor plan My Park Story: Megan Spina Read Megan's park story of interning with the Student Conservation Association at Devils Postpile National Monument and later as a Scientists in Parks at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A woman looking through binoculars. Miller Field Seaplane Hangar Virtual Tour Miller Field was built at the end of World War I as an aerial coastal defense station. The Seaplane Hangar was built in 1921. Its steel-frame, cast-in-place concrete structure with terra-cotta structural tile curtain walls is an early example of hangar technology. During World War II, it was altered to hold barracks, a mess, office space, and vehicle repair. Explore the Seaplane Hangar via HDP’s virtual tour, point cloud, animation, and archival HABS documentation. Greyscale photo of airplane hangar entrance Lifeguard Recruitment - National Park Service Join the National Park Service and apply to be a lifeguard today! boats on the water Staff Spotlight: Floyd Myers Meet Floyd Myers, who is the Chief of Business Development and Partnerships for the National Parks of New York Harbor. He was previously the acting Deputy Superintendent at Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and worked at several other parks before that, including the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Site, Booker T. Washington National Historic Site, and others. Floyd Myers in uniform 2023 Excellence in Volunteerism Awards The National Park Service congratulates the regional recipients of the 2023 Excellence in Volunteerism Awards. These nominees embody the values of service, engagement, and stewardship fundamental to our national parks. The volunteer-in-parks logo Project Profile: Implement Landscape-Scale Restoration of Eastern Grasslands to Improve Ecosystem Health The National Park Service will restore up to 4,000 acres of agricultural fields and degraded lands across 35 parks in 14 states. This landscape-scale restoration project will expand the range and connectivity of native grasslands across the eastern US, restore biodiversity and critical ecosystem functions, reduce pesticide use, benefit people and wildlife, and create employment opportunities for diverse early career youth. A park manager and others standing amidst a grassy landscape.