Date: September 2, 2010
Contact: Jane Ahern, 718-354-4607; cell 917-299-3843
Contact: John Warren, 718-354-4608; cell 917-829-0425
The National Weather Service is predicting that the effects of Hurricane Earl will impact the Sandy Hook, Staten Island and Jamaica Bay Units of Gateway National Recreation Area, by Friday, September 3, 2010 with storm conditions continuing throughout the day.
Rough surf and high winds will create unsafe conditions at park beaches. Therefore water-based activities--with the exception of surfing at approved areas--will be prohibited until the weather improves and safe conditions allow for these recreational activities to resume. Swimming at the park's Jacob Riis, Great Kills and Sandy Hook beaches will be prohibited. All water-based visitor programs, including the guided kayaking programs at Jamaica Bay, will be suspended as well. If weather conditions worsen, park management may decide to prohibit all recreation activities, including surfing.
No parking fees at Jacob Riis and Sandy Hook will be collected at park entrances until the beaches reopen. All park visitor centers remain open at this time.
The beach campfire program at Jacob Riis Park, scheduled for Friday, September 3 at 7:30 PM, has been cancelled. It will not be rescheduled. Kayaking programs at Frank Charles Park and Riis Landing are also cancelled. All other land-based interpretive programs remain scheduled at this time. For a current list of visitor walks, talks and programs, please visit our website.
Visit our website at http://www.nps.gov/gate and follow news on twitter at http://twitter.com/GatewayNPS for further information about park activities and updates about beach re-openings.
The public may also call the following numbers for information:
Sandy Hook Unit: 732-872-5900 (24-hour number)
Jamaica Bay Unit: 718-318-4340 (Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)
Staten Island Unit: 718-351-6970 (Miller Field)
For more storm-related information, listen to NOAA weather radio and local radio and media for updates and advisories or see the website for the National Weather Service.
