Jacob Riis Park (Gateway National Recreation Area)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Riis Beach is such a great spot to spend the day. The beach is wide, clean, and never feels too crowded, even on busy weekends. The water is nice for swimming, and there’s plenty of space to spread out and relax. What I love most is the mix of people—it has a welcoming, laid-back vibe that makes everyone feel comfortable. There are food stands and little spots to grab drinks or snacks, so you don’t have to leave if you get hungry. The sunsets here are also amazing, definitely worth staying to watch. Whether you want to hang out with friends, take a walk, or just relax by the ocean, Riis Beach has the perfect atmosphere.

fittingly came here after completing a summer lgbt+ history course which in one of the modules we discussed designated spaces for queer folks where jacob riis was mentioned. it was lovely to come here knowing the history with a group of friends on the 4th. cute beach, accessible by car or public transportation via q35 and other bus routes, ample bathrooms, only two eating spots tho. additionally love that one can be nude or partially

It has a nice beach, kids play area and picnic area.

Very Spacious, Really Clean, place to walk, bike 🚲 riding, jogging, 👟 a Very Beautiful ocean 🌊 view! 👍🏾😌⛱️♥️❤️

Officer D. Rodriguez (pictured here) approached me at the end of the boardwalk nearest Tilden and threatened to arrest me for dropping my SERVICE DOG'S leash for less than a minute. The NPS will see on his OWN body cam footage that my dog is wearing service dog vest and indeed on leash for the entirety of our interaction. He told me to move to Bay 3 and I told him no problem and as I was packing up with my husband to leave, he continued to threaten me and escalate the matter, on a power trip, literally threatening to arrest me. I know my rights and was not afraid. Are you not trained to deescalate?!?!?! He could have simply said, please pick up your dog's leash, which was attached to her collar (like I said it was out of my hand for less than a minute and we were not near any people or protected birds) and he rode up on me threatening to literally arrest me. I AM PROTECTED BY THE AMERICAN'S with disabilities act and this "officer" should be disciplined.

Best Brooklyn beach by far. It’s reasonable clean and gay friendly. Available shower close to the big public restroom.

Riis is a great option for city beaches. So close and the amenities game has been upped. Was here multiple times this summer and it was always a blast.

My most favorite place in the world - the Beach. I've been coming here for many many years. It's local to me and having a playground is a bonus with a few areas to grill. It's much easier to walk to the beach if you're lugging beach equipment. It's my GO TO beach. Only thing is when summer is around expect to pay for parking. But the beach does provide a huge lot and it gets packed fast!

Ive been coming to beach for yearssss and it is one of my favorites in the city. It is very easy to get to. I usually drive and park in the lot for a fee. Im not sure how much it was this year. This time I took the bus right into the beach from Brooklyn. It was crowded as I forgot it was Labor Day which was cool. I was able to get a decent spot. The concessions were open and the beach was hot and the water was clean and cool. Years ago I use to come for brunch in winter which was good. I wonder if they still have it. I would be back soon. Hopefully for brunch or coffee at least since fall is upon us :-)

Cool beach, nice chill vibe, it was clean as well. Bathrooms were clean-ish...lol, plenty of parking but it's for a fee of $20.00.

This Riis Park renovation has been going on for years. It is currently a total disaster. I went by there today and I saw one (1) person working. At this rate the project that was scheduled for completion this June, won't be ready for many years. We were looking forward to all new facilities including a hotel, a waterfront hotel, an Olympic size pool, etc. Looks like this project, like every other federal project is total joke. I wouldn't go to Riis Park if it was the last beach in the world.

Came to the beach for a few hours. Nice and quiet. The weather perfect. I wish they had vending spots otherwise it was perfect.

Took a drive out to Jacob Riis Park with my girl's on a weekday afternoon. Had a great time. The beach is really clean and was not crowded at all. The restrooms are well kept and beach patrol rides around in their truck to make sure that beach goers are safe and unbothered without being pests about it. Riis is the beach of my childhood and as I've become an adult, it's nice to see that conditions here have continued to improve over time. Didn't spot any shark fins in the water and there's plenty of parking in the beach's huge lot.

I really enjoy this beach area during the off season (winter) It's so quiet and peaceful with miles of walkable beach. I definitely don't love it in the summer when it's packed and it costs 20$ to park in the lot but, when it's free and deserted this is a prime beach spot!

2023 Update- Still the cleanest and most spacious free entry beach in the NYC area! August water temperature 78°F- great for a hot summer day. Getting Here- Ferry ride from Wall St 1.5hrs or Brooklyn Army Terminal now $4, departing hourly during the week in the summer with long lines or a premium VIP reserved time ticket for $10, and can be purchased in the NYC Ferry App or at the terminal kiosks. Free shuttle bus waiting at the Ferry terminal takes you to the Camp Rockaway drop off which is under construction right now. Walk over to the Jacob Riis Pavillion for the open restrooms, services, and concessions. Subway $2.75, 1.5hrs from Manhattan is on the A train to the S and then grab a bus that heads to Jacob Riis (or just check your maps for recommendations). Drive and pay $20-$50 for parking depending on your vehicle size. Concessions and bathrooms available at the Jacob Riis Pavillion- which is a 10min walk or so from the bus and shuttle stop.

I absolutely love this beach. It is huge and can completely contain the numbers of New Yorkers who travel here for its beautiful beach and amazing food choices. We've celebrated kid birthdays here and also just come to rest on the arm sand with a book. Great vibes here.

Beach is super quiet today as it's a cloudy, not blistering hot, day. On trips like this I love listening to the ocean with my feet in the warm sand.

Jacob Riis is an excellent beach to go to if you know what to expect beforehand. Located west of Rockaway Beach, it is in a secluded area and only easily accessible with a car. If you looking for a very quiet beach with barely any people around, this is the spot. However, if you are looking for a beach with a busy boardwalk, restaurants or even street vendors, you will find none of that here. Luckily, if you come by car, those things are quickly reached by going east towards Rockaway Beach.

I personally love this beach and I come here all the time. I went with my friends just last week, and thus, finally decided to write this review. Jacob Riis Park is a place to hang out and relax in a calm, breezy, judgment-free setting. It doesn't feel like New York given its distance from buildings and the fresh, open air, but it very much resembles NYC in the diversity of it its crowd. For some it's an LGBTQIA haven, while for others, it's just some paradise away from the hustle and bustle. Either way, I highly recommend it. You just have to see for yourself!

Great family outing. Quite enjoyable for all ages!!! We had the baby abd the grandparents with us.

I visited Jacob Riis Park during the Covid-19 semi-closure - so it was quite a different experience than most of the reviews! Here's what's different (in the meantime) +Parking is free! There was no attendant, and parking wasn't 'ample' but manageable +No shops or food are open- bring your own picnic! +It's a Covid-19 rule that you aren't allowed to swim, and it seemed most everyone followed this +based on the crowds last weekend, you're still able to safely social distance while laying on the beach. It's busy, but not insane This definitely isn't the typical beachy summer experience, but I still enjoyed breathing fresh salty air and relaxing in the sun.

Great beach with a very diverse crowd. During the week its light on people almost feels like you have it all to yourself. The weekend its very crowded so get there early to get a good spot. BK relaxtion!!!

The beach is clean, cute boardwalk if you bring a bike. It's quiet where I was. Cons: Parking is 10 dollars. No street parking AT ALL near the beach there's signs prohibiting it after May 31st until a certain date. They sell a season pass parking I forgot the price of that. There is also a toll from BK. I think with ezpass $2.50 without $4 ? They hit you with the toll both ways which is a BIATCH.

BOTTOM LINE: by far my fave beach in New York! TIP/S: The section to the far left (when facing the water) is topless-optional. If you intend to drive here more than 4 times June-August, grab (buy) a parking pass, it's worth it! ...WHO: party of 1, typically WHY: respite WHAT: (Deets) This is definitely one of my happy places. I come here to read, walk along the shore, take a dip (there's typically calm surf), or just relax and listen to music or a chat with fellow "beachbums". The vibe is typically easy, fun, relaxed. Even though it is hot there is almost always a breeze. Be sure to bring sunscreen and off because the sandflies are real. Guard your food because the Seagulls are real. There is a covered food court to right end of the beach (when facing the water). There is also entertainment (and hammocks) in that area. There is a beach bazaar on Weekends during the summer months with kool artisan crafts. There are bike rentals. There are also tons of benches and a concrete boardwalk if the sand is not your thing. WHEN: days that hit 75 or higher WHERE: varies HOW: car (toll & parking fee)/ bike/ public transportation Q22 Q35 bus BATHROOM: roomy (multiple stalls, separate gender) WIFI: unsure DRESS CODE: as you like SERVICE: lifeguards are present during typical business hours during the summer season

This beach is ok. Gets crowded even on the weekdays. People are supposed to stay 6-10ft away from each other on the beach but some people just cant seem to follow that rule and just squeeze themselves into any space. Sand is dirty and littered with random stuff. Lots of broken clam shells as well. Need to have rough skin on your feet. Not alot, but quite a noticeable amount of seaweed when you're in the water. Waves were not too bad. Mostly little waves with an occasional strong one. Parking is $10. If you're coming from brooklyn side, have to pay toll to get over the bridge both ways.

This is quiet a trek for most New Yorkers. There is certainly a reason to come an enjoy the untethered Atlantic here.

Like this beach so much that this was my 2nd time to visit within 1 month.. It's a great location for a perfect beach day especially when the weather is not so unbearable or humid where you cannot stay in the sun too long. It's beautiful scenic views of the ocean is very captivating and relaxing. There's a huge parking lot you pay $10 to park your car, but grounds are very spacious and clean.

I used to frequent the Rockaways often, but decided to try Riis beach this time around. I love that this beach isn't overly crowded like Coney Island or Brighton Beach. I came on a Friday morning, and the crowd wasn't big at all. It's super easy to get to from Brooklyn as well. The Q35 bus goes straight there. The only downside is that I didn't really see any showers to wash off the sand from the your body.

A great local option only 30 minutes away from downtown Manhattan. We left right before 9am and got there sitting on beach at 9:50. There is a $10 parking fee- cash only! We parked In the lot left of the gate and there is a underpass to walk through to get quickly to the beach. This side seemed less crowded on a Saturday am. The beach has some pebbles and shells but much cleaner than Coney Island or Brighton. People weren't wearing masks which was unfortunate. Overall we will return here or try Fort Tilden.

Who needs to go to Long Island when you have Riis Beach just a stone's throw away in Queens?! For the longest time, I believed the best beaches in New York were in Long Island, but I was proven wrong on my most recent visit to Riis Park. Sure, Long Island has Jones Beach and Robert Moses Beach, but don't dismiss Riis Park by any means. I recently visited Riis Park with some friends on July 4th and, as expected, the beach was packed. It was July 4th after all. It was my 1st visit to the beach and, honestly, we had a terrific time there. It wasn't just because the company was good, but the beach was "clean-ish", there were basketball courts nearby, a BBQ pit area, food trucks for the hungry, lifeguards on duty and there was plenty of real estate for everyone. There were no obnoxious people as everyone was just having a good time. The beaches in Long Island are definitely bigger and cleaner, but if you're not into driving in 2 hours of bumper to bumper traffic and want to save some of that time for extra vitamin D, Riis Park is a fantastic alternative. On a side note, parking at the beach's private lot is $10 for all cars and is really the only option if you're driving to the beach.

Boobs everywhere. Like it's a typical Tuesday and we're just all letting it hang out. I did not partake. I enjoyed that it was a very body positive and inclusive environment. All races, gender, sexual orientation. Waves were amazing, pretty strong for Labor day. Concession stand had limited options. People walking around offering edibles and drinks. Music bumping, people laughing. One of the best beaches I've been to in a long time. Easy to park and easy to find a spot to plop down. Lifeguards were active and keeping an eye out. I would definitely return here

Good local NYC beach for a nice family outing or a solo beach day. Lots of food to choose from on the broad walk :)

I love this beach! I grew up taking the bus to Riis beach with my siblings and friends. It's great to see that fast forward 10 years later, and this beach still has the same look and feel that it once had 10 years ago. I went there yesterday with my sister, niece, and daughter and we had a blast. The beach was clean for the most part and very relaxing. There were tons of couples and families out just enjoying the sun. If you're driving into the beach there is a $10 charge for parking, or you can take the bus in which is $2.50. I suggest to go as early as possible, I got there at noon and there was still a good amount of people there. Con: Smokers !!! :X ugh! While making a sandcastle with my daughter I actually dug up a cigarette bud which was gross. And there was a women smoking an inch from where I was laying with my daughter. She heard me complain and put it out, but still. This beach is a place for families there should be NO smoking allowed on certain parts of the beach.

This is a great beach to go to if you live in NY/Queens/BK area. There is no train close to the beach, so if you don't have a car, you will likely have to take a bus (about a 15-20 min ride on the B35 bus) or a cab from the last stop on the 2-train. The beach is nice, not anything to scream about, but it is clean enough and is expansive, so there is plenty of space to sprawl out. I came here on a random Thursday with one of my friends. The beach had a decent amount of people for a Thursday, but it was far from packed. There was a lifeguard on duty and a lot of older people enjoying laying out in the sun. There is no boardwalk and nowhere to get food (even close by) so I highly recommend bringing your own food and beverages!! WARNING: that the further east of the beach you go, the more likely you are to encounter nude bathers as there is a nude beach directly next to this beach on the east. Pros: - Beach area is decent and clean - Beach stretches for a few miles so lots of space to set up - One of the better beaches in NYC area that is within a decent public transportation - Area seems safe Cons: - No boardwalk - Nowhere to buy food or beverages - Have to take several modes of public transportation (two-fare zone) - Area around the beach is desolate as it seems to be a boat docking area - There is semi-construction going on near the beach (I didn't see any construction when I was there, but there was a crane present near the boardwalk)

Great beach. Not too crowded, no NYPD patrols on quads harassing people trying to unwind, like in Coney or Brighton!

A destination mostly in summer months. Many wonderful concessions open Memorial Day past Labor Day. Some renovations happening to restore main building & convert to a hotel. This is the place to be free & relax. Accessible by car, bus & ferry shuttle.

Made my maiden voyage to Riis Beach recently and was pretty impressed! Admission is free but parking is $10. You can take the bus there, it drops you off right in front. They have concessions and picnic tables to buy food and drinks. The bathrooms are really, really gross. I wish they were cleaner. Bring a cooler with food and drinks. If you're going to drink something harder than Poland Springs, put it in a cup to throw off the lookie loos. Bring hand sanitizer. Please love our Mother Earth bring an empty plastic bag and take all of your trash with you. It's also a great idea so that you're not running back and forth to the pail.

Sooo its a hot summer day and Jones Beach is a bit too far away, right? And Coney Island is, well, Coney Island. So where do you go? How about Riis Park in Rockaway, Queens? Here's a few fun facts about journeying over to Riis: + The park is easy enough to get to from all parts of BK (and probably Queens and Manhattan too). Whether you're driving, biking, taking the ferry or the bus - there's a way to get to Riis. +/- If you drive - parking is $10 for the entire day. But that's the standard w/ a lot of the beaches/parks in NYC. + Worried about the place being too crowded? Don't be. There's plenty of sand for you and all your beach gear. We went out last Saturday morning and found a lovely patch close to the water, and not once did we feel too crowded as other started to fill in around us. And weekday visits are sooo not crowded. We drove out today at 10am and there were only a handful of umbrellas. By 2pm the place started to fill in... but only a little bit. + The beach is pretty clean too. We didn't have to push aside or step over any empty soda cans or chip bags, no seaweed to wrestle. - There aren't a ton of food options during the week but the weekend brings out the Bizarre (http://www.yelp.com/biz/riis-park-beach-bazaar-queens). There's plenty of stands to choose from but the lines for each were crazy long. I suggest bringing a cooler. + If you like the beach but don't love the beach - there's a great boardwalk that stretches the entire length of Riis and beyond. Walk, bike, whateva. There's also a whole bunch of grills and picnic tables. - Once you cross over the bridge to this part of Queens the cell service gets very very spotty, ugh. Considering everything though - on a 90-degree day there is nothing better than a cool ocean breeze and the best spot to get that - Riis Park!

This beach is very clean, as well as the water. There are sections of it that are better suited for the family and some that are better suited for friends, fun, and weed. The only advise I would offer is that you should come fully prepared as there are no places to get food, or rent beach umbrellas. Also you will barely have signal on the beach no matter who is your provider. Come prepared to relax and disconnect.

"Getting away from it all" I have been coming here for my "mental beach" days for years and I love it here. Plus, you actually can feel like you have escaped the city because you will be lucky to have only one bar for cell phone reception. On weekdays, the beach is pretty much deserted. There is not much around the Jacob Riis portion, so you should bring everything that you need (water, food, sunblock, etc) for the day. There is a small food truck (hotdogs, gyros, rice/beans, milkshakes, etc. )slightly west of the Marine Parkway Bridge and it is an ~15 min walk to the beach. Oh if you are feeling adventurous sometimes people sell Nutcrackers, a random mix of various boozes and kool-aid, on the beach. I have yet to try one because I am not trying to drink something that has been made in a random person's kitchen sink. The beach is pretty clean, compared to other beaches in the city and you can experience decent waves. Note that in this section of the beach some people sunbathe nude, many women are topless and it is very LGBT friendly. If you do desire human interaction, you can take the bus east for a few stops and end up at the boardwalk, which has quite a few different eateries (Lobster Joint, a ceviche place, an arepa spot, and a small bar). Be sure to bring cash because none of these places accept credit/debit cards.

Queens has a natural jewel as I do not have to travel far to access Jacob Riis Park. Always clean, never densely populated as you never bump into the person walking next to you. My brain was ditched at my workplace as my body was blankly staring at the waves. Water is clean. Subject to National Park Service, Jacob Riis Park is not under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks Department which is why there are no mobile food concession stands and no street peddlers who will walk into your face peddling for money as beach goers mainly want to relax and care-free day. Ahh, no street peddlers to disturb nature and the calm desire to relax, therefore no garbage or debris on the beach, boardwalk or streets. Note: Very minimal cellular signal is available at this very isolated peninsula. When traveling by car there is a flat parking fee per vehicle, but when traveling by mass transit it is only accessible by Q35 bus or Q22 bus at Beach 116th Street.

Park fee is $20 which is rediculous considering LI beaches are cleaner for only $10. They eliminated parking attendants at the pay booth and have no signs to indicate such until you literally pull infront the booth to scan a barcode. Who's big smart idea this was at a beach w NO RECEPTION is a complete joke. Many vehicles have to drive out of the parking area and drive away to find reception. Once you get reception you have to create an account, have your email verified which all requires RECEPTION. Ummmmmmmm all of this for what again ??? Why not just have a machcine that accepts credit cards, prints a tkt so we can all pay and go. This is a JOKE !!

love the vibe as always... bought my season pass ($65) because I'm def coming ($10 a day) more than 6 more times before the summer is over!!!

Okay it's not the Bahamas, but honestly, a beach in your borough is beautiful. The fact that this beautiful piece of land is in Queens Ny makes me super happy. Huge parking lot and working bathroom locations (easy to look up online). Although I do enjoy parking up at Riss, I prefer going a tad bit more East and parking up around beach 130th street. The beach is cleaned in the mornings, and the garbage is minimal. I've spent many early mornings here watching the beautiful sunrise and later jumping in for a dip. Absolutely gorgeous.

I remember going to this beach when I was a student at Baruch College with my friend Esther. She knew which bus to take and where the best spots were to sit and scoping out the cute guys. Well some years later Jacob Riis Park looks....exactly the same. I've been wanting to try Rockaway ever since The NY Times ran an article about its renovation a few years ago.The article touted how the A train stopped at 116th Street which gave MTA straphangers access to the beach. It also talked about how new restaurants were opening up on the Boardwalk. There is a smorgasbord of eateries from burgers to wings even Ample Hills has an ice cream stand. There is live entertainment on the weekends too. The beach itself is clean and wide and the sand feels dreamy under your feet. I really do feel like I'm miles away from Bklyn. However, the buildings surrounding the beach( I think there used to be an old movie theatre here) look decrepit. The bathrooms need major renovation. I can think of great property development for this place: they can develop hotels like Long Beach for tourists and locals to spend the weekend, a Food Court that can house a multitude of eateries and the list can go on and on. The great thing is the new Ferry system that is linking Bay Ridge and Manhattan residents to this beach area hopefully can provide investment for future deals. Also, need to give a shoutout to the free shuttle buses that greet you as you depart the Ferry and take you to different beach spots. The bus also gives you the chance to partake in the Rockaway Blvd local flavor of shops that dot Rockaway Beach Blvd and the beautiful murals the kids from local schools have drawn along the route. For now, I felt like the Tom Hanks character in Big when he goes back to Seaside Heights to find the Fortune Teller who grants him his wish to be Big.. There was so much nostalgia I felt as a college student visiting in the past and so much hope for the future. I have researched some things and other spots to visit. Next up I want to visit 116th Street and definitely try the new eateries like Tacoaway and some other great finds on Yelp. For now I'm enjoying my journey as a tourist to this Queens hot spot.

This is my favorite beach in NYC area. The beaches in Brooklyn are way too crowded and not clean enough for me. However, Jacob Riis is a much larger beach so even if there is a lot of people, you don't really notice it since the beach is so big. They have good facilities - plenty of bathrooms and water pumps to wash away the sand. The beach is pretty clean - not much garbage lying around and there are enough trash cans. There is also a large area to have barbecues and picnics. There's a lot of public transportation choices now - NYC ferry then shuttle, MTA bus, or NYC beach bus. I live in Brooklyn but I still choose to come here instead of Coney Island or Brighton Beach despite the fact it takes double the amount of time. It's definitely worth coming here than beaches in Brooklyn - less of a headache dealing with crowds and the lack of facilities.

Now that there are ferry service that can bring you here, it has become the go to spot for beach-goers. But warning, the ferry still may not be the best option during the summer months. Long lines at the piers. Once the ferry is filled, you're waiting another hour. It's exactly one hour to reach Rockaway. Then you're waiting somewhere between 5 minutes to 45 minutes for the free shuttle bus to the actual beach. Most people just get uber instead of waiting for shuttle. I've used the ferry and shuttle twice (May 2017 when it opened and July 2018). I never took it back into the city so I can't tell how it is going back. On to the actual beach. It's small so it does get pack. But the water feels amazing. No crazy waves to drown me. I always bring my own food. But I heard there are many restaurants options in the area. There is also a shower area to rinse off the sand before getting in your area.

I'm originally from Southern California where I'm sure most people can gather - beach is life. After several years of trekking to Rockaway someone suggested Jacob Riis and I have not gone back. This place is less crowded and in my opinion cleaner. In addition, it still has all of the essentials: functional restrooms, showers and nearby vendors should you want to shop, play in an arcade or grab food or drinks. And don't worry the nutcrackers are still a plenty. Plus the Q35 conveniently drops you off just a short walking distance from the sand. Bottom line don't come here expecting some Caribbean or Malibu beach experience but for New York I highly recommend.

For being nice, clean, friendly, easy to get to, and free, Jacob Riis is perhaps my favorite beach in the proximity of NYC. Ride the 2/5 train all the way to Flatbush, then board the Q35 bus on Avenue H and Flatbush, and twenty minutes later you're on the beach. I'll be the first to admit the the ride along Flatbush is not the most scenic one, but things get better/greener as soon as you reach Marine Park and Floyd Bennett Field. Instead of ugly buildings and a freeway, Jacob Riis beach has the beautiful 1932 Art Deco bathhouse with its iconic twin octagonal brick towers as a backdrop[1]. The beach is large, clean, and well kept. There are bathrooms at either end of the beach,plenty of trash cans along the boardwalk, and a couple of places where you can grab a bite and something to drink. Because the beach is very wide, it never gets as crowded as at other beaches. It gets busy, though, but the overall atmosphere is pretty relaxed here: I've seen people drinking beer, smoking, and topless women; all in front of the oblivious life guards. The gay-friendly part of the beach is the one further East, past the last lifeguard. Oh, and if you're a smoker: please take the cigarette butts with you. I've seen quite a few people smoking here, and every single one of them left the cigarette butts on the beach. That's not cool; the beach is public; it belongs to everybody, and we are all guests here. Would you leave your cigarette butts on the floor at a friend's house? Tip: on the way back, walk a few blocks East and board the Q35 bus on Rockaway Beach Boulevard at Beach 149th St. That way you will avoid the crowds waiting for the bus at Jacob Riis Park Roadway. Also, if you love this beach, did you know that bill HR 2606 would give Secretary of Interior authorization to build a gas pipeline through Gateway National Park, under Jacob Riis beach, and a few miles out in the ocean right in front of the beach? That's right: the use of national park land to provide gas to the city and realty business to industry. And all this without input from the public. If you believe that the National Park Service was created to protect parks and not to promote the creation of industrial parks; if you want to protect Gateway national Park and Jacob Riis Park, you can sign a petition here: http://signon.org/sign/no-pipeline-in-gateway --------------------------------------- [1] An interesting article about the bathhouse. And the renovations that started in the 1990s and were never finished: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/nyregion/jacob-riis-bathhouse-envisioned-as-park-centerpiece-looks-abandoned.html

I rode my bike to this place a couple times and I like how the boardwalk isn't busy at all, its feels spacious and semi serene, same goes for the actual sandy beach, it's quieter than nearby Rockaway beach. The food trucks can sometimes seem far so it's best to bring your own snacks as well as avoiding their prices. Once you get in the water you'll see there isn't much swimming to do, the ocean is a little steep here so you can't go too far. My visit was different in that I went to a national park ranger sponsored bonfire, they meet up there on Friday's during certain months of the summer, hand out free s'mores, talk about national parks, and sing songs with guitar. If you ever see them there, definitely enjoy.

Fantastic escape from NYC, this is one of my favorite beach day trips. I enjoy biking here, as there is a convenient and beautiful bike trail from Coney Island. Other than that, you can take a bus or drive, but biking is the most economical option and is so much fun. It's also very helpful to have a bike in the park, which is sprawling. It would take a really long time to walk to the different destinations and sites. I also enjoyed being able to bike on the boardwalk, although it there are no clearly marked bike and pedestrian lanes, so it is a pretty crazy and a little dangerous. The beach is busier than some other spots in the Rockaways, but relatively clean. Lots of nice food vendors on the boardwalk. The park is full of old military buildings and feels surreal. It's a little hard to navigate since there isn't really any signage. The MoMA Rockaway! art installation is located here and is a must see. It's also free!

This is the easiest beach after Coney island for me to get to, and its good cause you dont get stuck in too much LI traffic coming or going. Plenty of sand here, you can have a big football game in the backfield sand and not disturb the sunbathers. We were tossing bombs as far as the eye can see. Watch out for shells and sticks, its not the most forgiving sand to run barefoot in. water was very clean and there wasnt too much plastic or pollution in the water on Memorial day. Parking lot was only $5 too not $10 like Jones beach or so I heard. They had clean bathrooms, freshly mopped at least, and concession stands for toys and beach stuff, as well as refreshment stands with $5.50 beers and Spongebob squarepants ice creams. Yesssss! I guess this is as good as it gets for me, it was convenient and I was %100 satisfied on this visit.

Today I believe is the 80th anniversary for the parks department so I did not have to pay ten bucks to park my car. It's not hard to get here by public transportation or by car. There are food trucks if you are hungry. The restrooms are as much as you epect considering it is open to the public. But it has not been so bad this summer. My only complaint is that I have not been able to find not one seashell. The sand is hot and the water is cool and refreshing. Family is the main theme but its cool for a day to just relax people and check out the sights.

Jacob Riis Park is a Robert Moses-era facility built in the age of Progress and the spirit of Public Recreation. Envisioned as a the NYC-based counterpart to Jones Beach in Nassau County, a place where the urban working classes could get some fresh air and exercise. Today, there's a certain poignancy to visitng the site, with its mostly empty oval-shaped 5,000+ space concrete parking lot (the largest in the world at the time of its construction) and closed-up but grandly-scaled art deco bathhouse floating next to a sea of gracefully-curving parkway-style roads. The crescent-shaped beach at the western end is the widest stretch of sand this side of Breezy Point, and exudes a lazy sense of order and civility. Now part of Gateway National Recreation Area like Fort Tilden next door, it still feels like a State park, as opposed to the City boardwalk of Rockaway Beach to the east and the Federal former military base Fort Tilden on its west. Less accessible via transit (bus only) and with a purer "park" feel than the former, but more amenities than the latter (snack bars with beer, lifeguards, a concrete promenade, beachside restrooms, a pitch-and-putt golf course), Riis Park exists as a pyschogeographic middle-place on the beach peninsula, between the Bay and the Atlantic, the urban and resurgent nature.

Came here on the opening weekend and it was a blast! The beach is not as crowded as Jones Beach and there are live music every weekend starting from end of May! Now that the Brooklyn Night Bazaar is moved here, food/drinks options are improved. Highly recommend! Lastly, you can take the NYC Beach Bus which picks up from Williamsburg or Barclay Center. Very convenient!

Used to go to Coney Island beach in the West 30's . But started going to Riis. Although it can get quite crowded it is a different crowd. Less attitude , friendly people. Clean beach because people actually take their garbage off the beach with them for the most part. I'm not aware of any stores nearby but there usually is an ice cream truck there. I forgot sunscreen and I was almost out of luck but another beach goer was kind enough to let me use theirs. Nice crowd!

If you want a unique NYC beach experience, look no further! They have places to bbq if you get there early enough in the summer. Bands play here by the food court; which, is pretty awesome btw. They have ice cream. Great place to ride bikes. They also offer many basketball courts, although it is sometimes a bit windy.