4. EXISTING CONDITIONS OVERVIEW

1. Historical Context

2. NYC Parks’ Properties

3. Flooding and Resiliency Measures

4. NYC Parks’ Plans and Other Initiatives

5. Existing Transportation and Connections

6. Existing Natural Resources and Resiliency

7. Existing Recreation

8. Community Input

9. Potential Areas of Opportunity ROCKAWAYS PAST: RECREATION

1902: Playland opened 1912: Surfing beach introduced to the Rockaways 1930s: The 5.5 mile boardwalk was fully connected in the 1930s

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ROCKAWAY PARKS CONCEPTUAL PLAN HISTORICAL TIMELINE ROCKAWAYS PAST: RECREATION

Ft. Tilden Breezy Point Tip

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

1936: Jacob opened 1948 and 1955: Edgemere 1971: Edgemere Parks’ name is changed to Park acquired Rockaway Community Park

1938: Control of City beaches 1972: Gateway National Recreation Area created, transfered from the Borough including Park, Breezy Point Tip, President to DPR Ft. Tilden, and Wildlife Refuge

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013

ROCKAWAY PARKS CONCEPTUAL PLAN HISTORICAL TIMELINE ROCKAWAYS PAST: RECREATION

Far Rockaway Park Overall Site Plan

Comfort Station Shade Structure Shade Structure Stage Canopy for Beach Overlook for Performance Area and Food Concession 2009 - 2012: PlaNYC 2020 Park

2013: Sandy recovery - Construction of the “Islands” Playland closed Multi-million dollar restoration Rockaway Taco opened 1985: 1999: 2009: 2011: Beach visitorship rose to project repaired damaged boardwalk and 7 million opens the full extent of the boardwalk to the public for the first time in 25 years

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013

ROCKAWAY PARKS CONCEPTUAL PLAN HISTORICAL TIMELINE ROCKAWAYS PAST: NATURAL RESOURCES + RESILIENCY

Existing Natural Resources

Dune Restoration

ULURP Arverne East - 1991: Edgemere capped 1996: The Arverne Piping 2003: 2012: hit Great Preserve Plover Nesting Area began restoration on 2 acres of the Rockaways established between Beach 38th marshland and 58th Street

Barrier Island Habitat

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2013

ROCKAWAY PARKS CONCEPTUAL PLAN HISTORICAL TIMELINE ROCKAWAYS PAST: CONNECTIONS

2012: Ferries begin to operate between 34th St and Pier 11

1956: NYC Subway extended to the Rockaways

2011: Rockabus from Williamsburg

Lefferts Gardens 3

Q B 7th Ave. Borough 2 5 East Park L Ride Sections and distances are indicated Clarendon Rd. Brownsville by on the map by Flag Poles located at greenway access D Erskine St.

84th St. 84th points and points of interest. Flatbush 1.2 mi

Pennsylvania Ave. F 3.9 mi

N East L 91st 91st Flatbush St. 92nd Dyker Avenue H St. Rockaway Pkwy Fishing is subject to New York State Regulation. Permits

Hieghts 2 5 102nd St. Howard and licenses can be obtained through the National Park Beach Springfield Service (NPS) and other issuing agents. For more informa- Avenue 1 tion visit: http://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/or call Flatlands Ave. Canarsie Gardens (718) 338-3799.

1.8 mi Boating and Kay a king launch permits can be

56st St. 56st 80th St. obtained through NPS for GNRA launch sites or NYC Parks A Midwood 3.8 mi and Recreation for City Park launch sites. For boating rules, Bensonhurst Seaview Ave.

O Brookvilleregulations, and safety tips visit: www.nycgovparks.org/ Bedford Ave. Bedford cean Pkwy cean rules F ¡ Swimming is popular at and Rocka- Q B Flatbush Ave. ¡ JFK ¡ way Beach. However, because of powerful rip currents and N Airport changing life guard stations, swimming with extreme cau- Marine 7. Canarsie Bergen Pier tion is advised. For more information on swimming condi- 1880-1956: Far Rockaway LIRR mi 5 Park Beach tions please contact NYC 311. Bath D Beach Gravesend Mill The Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride is an An- Basin nual 40-mile summer bike tour around the entire Brooklyn 3 mi waterfront and on to the Rockaways. The Ride illustrates the vision of a completed waterfront greenway, and Ride Gerristen Sheepshead ¡ participants experience the amazing waterfront vistas and interesting waterfront neighborhoods of the Jamaica Bay Bay Ave. ¡ 5. Jamaica Bay and Brooklyn Waterfront Greenways. To receive information Wildlife Refuge about the next Epic Ride email [email protected].

¡ 2.5 mi operated Use the RockSpot Tour to learn more about sites throughout the Rockaways on your phone, or on the web: E107 A Neptune Ave. ➜ CALL: While on a tour, dial 347- 422-7952 and enter the ¡ RockSpot site code, (e.g., H109) to hear audio descriptions 2.4 mi N D S for each site. Q F Emmons Ave. E100 1. Floyd Bennett ➜ TEXT: Text the 4 digits site code to 815-714-8937 and 1.1 mi Broad B Crossbay Jamaica Q Field receive text descriptions on your mobile phone device. B 1.3 mi Channel Bay Park ➜ WEB: rockspotnyc.org

Jamaica Bay Bridge Fire Aviator lvd. 1950: Coney 4. Plumb Beach ¡ Sports Island Edgemere Brighton Park Beach Dubos Point P102 E101 Beach Michaelis- Jamaica Bay Brooklyn New York Beach Ferry service varies seasonally. Must walk bikes on East sidewalk LIRR Greenway Routes Bike Routes For schedules and additional info visit: Bayswater Park A http://newyorkbeachferry.com or call 718-474-0593. Must walk bikes on sidewalk Protected Bike Path

E108 Beac Beach Channel H104 B Rockaway each 116 St.

P105 1.7 mi ¡ Bicycle Lane: An on-street striped route h 73 S 73 h Beach Channel Dr. Rockaway Point Bvld. is the suggested route through Breezy Point H109 H110

A S t. Shared Lane: An on-street marked route Riis Belle Shorefront Pkwy ¡ c Rockaway Beach Blvd. 3.8 mi Kayak Proposed Future Landing ¡ Harbor 3.9 mi 6. Rockaway Beach ¡ Launch Site Greenway Routes Firehouse 59 Rockaway Point Blvd. Bike Shop/ Proposed Future 3.8 mi F102 Bike Rentals Bicycle Routes Breezy 3. Fort Note: Bicycles Permitted 6. Rockaway Beach P100 Ferry Subway Tilden B100 5am - 10am only c 2 Terminal Point 2. Jacob Riis P107 Landing 9. Breezy Park Rides Distance Subway Point Marker Stop

P100 Rockspot Site Restrooms 1939: Shorefront Parkway opened E106 under the direction of 2009: Jamaica Bay Greenway underway. (19-mile loop along waterfront in Brooklyn and ) 1927-1937: First and only municipal ferry operated in Jamaica Bay

1905: Canarsie Ferry Line closed

2006: Bike Lane and Bike Lane opened

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ROCKAWAY PARKS CONCEPTUAL PLAN HISTORICAL TIMELINE