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Gateway National Recreation Area Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge - West Pond
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Gateway National Recreation Area
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January 31, 2012
Five youths charged with setting fire at Gateway's Spring Creek area
Five local juveniles were arrested Monday, January 30 by U.S. Park Police at Spring Creek, a wildland area of Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City. They were charged with lighting a fire in an undesignated area.

January 19, 2012
Gateway signs five-year agreement with Rockaway Artists Alliance
Gateway National Recreation Area and the Rockaway Artists Alliance (RAA) signed a new cooperative agreement to expand programs offered within Gateway's Fort Tilden area.

January 10, 2012
Gateway enters negotiations with AIDS Resource Foundation for Children to lease Fort Hancock building
Gateway National Recreation Area has selected the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children for negotiation of a proposed lease for Officers Row Building #2, one of the historic structures at Fort Hancock located within Gateway’s Sandy Hook Unit in Highlands, N.J. A Letter of Intent is required to begin formal negotiations of the lease terms.

October 21, 2011
See Sandy Hook's Army Past at Fort Hancock Days
Gateway National Recreation Area will hold its annual celebration of Fort Hancock Days Friday, October 28 through Sunday, October 30, 2011. Fort Hancock Days commemorates the establishment of Fort Hancock as an Army base in October 1895

October 21, 2011
Gateway invites local community to learn about past progress, next steps of contamination cleanup at Great Kills Park
Gateway National Recreation Area invites the public to a meeting on Thursday, October 27 which will highlight the ongoing investigation and cleanup of contamination at Gateway’s Great Kills Park. The public will have the opportunity to examine documents and ask questions. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. at the Education Field Station at Great Kills Park.

October 13, 2011
Scientists to Share Data on Jamaica Bay at State of the Bay Symposium
Gateway National Recreation Area, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Brooklyn College will host a scientific symposium concerning Jamaica Bay at the Brooklyn College Student Center on Thursday, October 20. State of the Bay: Past, Present and Future - Revisited is an all-day event featuring research by top scientists in the preservation and restoration of Jamaica Bay in New York Harbor.

October 13, 2011
The Great Urban Outdoor Event, October 15-16, 2011
About 600 youth representing New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Boy Scouts of America, Brooklyn Council, the YMCA and the Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc., will join together to enjoy local stewardship and camping at The Great Urban Outdoor Event on October 15-16 at two parks in Brooklyn: Gateway National Recreation Area’s Floyd Bennett Field and NYC Parks’ Marine Park.

September 26, 2011
BioBlitz Makes Coastal Species Count
Over 150 volunteers helped Gateway National Recreation Area identify animal and plant species at Gateway's Sandy Hook Unit September 16-17. The American Littoral Society co-sponsored the event with the park, attracting volunteers and sponsors.

September 26, 2011
Gateway Announces New Visitor Center Schedules for Fall 2011
Beginning Sunday, October 2, several visitor centers throughout Gateway National Recreation Area will have new operating schedules. The new schedule is based on visitor patterns and anticipated staffing levels for the coming year.

September 08, 2011
Help Gateway Count Species at Sandy Hook September 16-17 for BioBlitz 2011
Gateway National Recreation Area, in partnership with the American Littoral Society, will hold a 24-hour “wildlife census” of animals and plant species at the park’s Sandy Hook Unit in Highlands, N.J. One “species” that the park hopes to see in great numbers: volunteers.

August 30, 2011
Most of Gateway Reopens After Hurricane Irene
Gateway National Recreation Area has reopened most of its 26,000 acres to the visiting public. Some areas remain closed, including: Sandy Hook in Highlands, New Jersey; Jacob Riis Park and Fort Tilden in Queens; and the beach area at Great Kills Park on Staten Island.

August 24, 2011
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author, Military Demonstrations Reveal Staten Island's Role in "Battle of Brooklyn"
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edwin G. Burrows discusses the role of Staten Island in the "Battle of Brooklyn" during the American Revolution, while military demonstrations and English colonial dancing illustrate life during wartime in the former colony of New York.

August 15, 2011
Gateway Proposes Parking Fee Increases, Seeks Public Comment
Gateway National Recreation Area seeks public comments from Monday, August 15, 2011, to Friday, September 16, 2011, concerning proposed increases in parking fees at both the Sandy Hook Unit and the Jamaica Bay Unit. The proposed changes would take effect at the beginning of the 2012 beach season.

July 28, 2011
All-Women Lifeguard Tournament Encourages Women to "Live Positively"
Over 150 women from four states competed in the 27th annual All-Women Lifeguard Tournament, held at Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit on Wednesday, July 27.

July 25, 2011
All-Women Lifeguard Tournament 2011
Gateway National Recreation Area hosts the 27th annual All-Women Lifeguard Tournament at Sandy Hook Unit in New Jersey. Over 200 contestants are expected to participate.

June 13, 2011
America's Great Outdoors: Salazar Proposes First Steps in Great Urban Park Vision for New York Area
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar proposed a series of first steps to link parks and other open spaces in the New York City metropolitan area to enable local communities, and especially young people, to connect with the natural beauty and history of the region.

May 23, 2011
Historic Military Aircraft Visits Floyd Bennett Field
Gateway National Recreation Area’s Floyd Bennett Field is host to a replica of the 1911 Ely-Curtiss Pusher through Friday, May 20. The historic aircraft landed to commemorate the Centennial of Naval Aviation.

May 20, 2011
Cabrera Services Hired for First Phase of Great Kills Park Cleanup
No abstract supplied.

May 19, 2011
"Tu Parque, Tu Salud" Internships Promote Health and Fitness to Spanish-Speaking Communities
No abstract supplied.

May 18, 2011
A Weekend of Family Fun at Sandy Hook
Gateway National Recreation Area’s Sandy Hook Unit hosts not one, but two events: Ocean Fun Day on Saturday, May 21 and Coastal Defenses Day on Sunday, May 22. Both events are free of charge and lunch may be purchased at the event.

May 09, 2011
Canarsie Pier Vendors Wanted
No abstract supplied.

April 12, 2011
Thousands of Visitors Treasure Staten Island
On Sunday, April 10, 3,600 visitors attended the third annual "Treasure Your Island Community Awareness Day" at Gateway National Recreation Area's Fort Wadsworth. The event brought together 28 Staten Island community and cultural organizations.

February 15, 2011
Gateway NRA Invites the Public to Discuss the Future of Fort Hancock
No abstract supplied.

A beached whale was found at Gateway NRA on February 11, 2009.

NPS Photo

A deceased beached whale was found February 11, 2009 at Gateway NRA.

2008 Releases

October 29: NYC Marathon November 2 Fort Wadsworth Information

October 29-November 19: 2008 Herbert Johnson Lecture Series At Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

“Jamaica Bay in Print” is the theme of the 2008 Herbert Johnson Lecture Series that begins on October 29 and runs November 5, 12, and 19, each of these Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., an author will read from, discuss, give an illustrated talk, and highlight how their works “in print” connect to Jamaica Bay. All presentations occur at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge visitor center.

November 1-2 Missiles and Migrants: Two Great Reasons to Get Outdoors This Weekend at Sandy Hook

"If you love birding or history or both, this is a great time to visit Sandy Hook," said Acting Sandy Hook Unit Superintendent Dave Avrin. "We've got two excellent programs this weekend. One that guides visitors on a search for migratory species on their way south, and another program that will help them learn about the important history Sandy Hook played during the Cold War at the Nike Missile Site."

October 31: Lantern Tours Explore Fort Tompkins at Night And Wildlife Experts Show What Animals Go Bump in the Night at the Staten Island Unit

It’s a time honored tradition for many people to want to be surprised one night every year on Halloween. "However, at Fort Tompkins we’ll show visitors how soldiers at coastal fortifications like Fort Tompkins actually protected New York Harbor from surprise military attacks all year round," said Acting Staten Island Unit Superintendent Jeanette Parker.

October 25: Mission Possible: Weather Might Not Have Cooperated But Volunteers at Gateway NRA Did

With a stiff breeze blowing, overcast skies, and rain looming in the forecast, the mission of planting beach grasses in the dunes at Gateway National Recreation Area's (NRA) Sandy Hook Unit might have seemed....impossible. "What might have seemed impossible, became possible thanks to the help of a few dozen volunteers as part of the National Parks America Tour," said General Gateway NRA Superintendent Barry Sullivan. "Today's volunteers made improvements to Sandy Hook’s beaches that will help to preserve this valued place for our kids and theirs."

October 25-26 Fort Hancock Days Held at Sandy Hook: Searchlights, Seashores and Soldiers

The National Park Service will hold its annual Fort Hancock Days celebration on Saturday evening, October 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday, October 26 from noon to 4 p.m. to commemorate the establishment of the U.S. Army facility on Sandy Hook in 1895.

October 18-19 No Child (or Adult) Left Inside This Weekend at Gateway National Recreation Area’s Sandy Hook

“Our fall program offerings this weekend have something for the child in your family or the childlike spirit in you,” said Sandy Hook Unit Superintendent Dave Avrin. “There’s no excuse to stay indoors and there are plenty of reasons to come visit Sandy Hook.”

October 7 See the Sights and Sounds of Sandy Hook Lighthouse in October

Since 1764 the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, America's oldest operating lighthouse, has guided ships along the Jersey Shore into the New York/New Jersey Harbor. Today, visitors to Sandy Hook can drive to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and enjoy not only sweeping views of the harbor, but during October we have a wonderful photography exhibit as well.

October 4-5 Open House New York

We'll Be "Dancing in the Streets," "Seeing Green" at Jamaica Bay, and "Time Traveling" at Jacob Riis Park this weekend! What will YOU be doing?

September 29: Court Affirms National Park Service Historic Leasing Project, The NPS and Sandy Hook Partners Will Move Forward to Save Fort Hancock

On September 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a ruling that effectively clears the way for the National Park Service to save Fort Hancock.

Week of September 29: Get in Touch With Sandy Hook at Marine Lab Open House and Weekend Junior Ranger Program

We have a three full days of activities for the entire family this coming weekend at Sandy Hook,” said Sandy Hook Unit Superintendent Dave Avrin. “If you’ve always secretly wanted to be a marine biologist, or have a child who loves learning about the ocean, this is the weekend to visit.”

Week of September 22: Fall Harvest of Activities Abound at Sandy Hook

As soon as Labor Day comes and summer ends, many visitors forget that a visit to Gateway’s Sandy Hook Unit can be an incredible experience in the fall as well. Whether you watch migratory birds head south for the winter, climb inside America’s oldest lighthouse, or marvel at the granite gun batteries of Fort Hancock, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy during what many describe as “the most beautiful time of year” at Sandy Hook.

September 20-21: International Beach Cleanup Days

This year’s International Coastal Cleanup will be held the weekend of September 20-21. This is more than a one-day event it’s a year-round movement. The ocean is essential to the health of everything on our planet. The International Coastal Cleanup provides a direct tangible way to make a difference. Trash in the ocean kills countless seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles each year through ingestion and entanglement.

September 21: Cold War Day to Highlight Nike Missile Site at Fort Hancock

Beginning at noon on Sunday, September 21, National Park Service staff and volunteers will be conducting tours of the Fort Hancock Nike missile launch and radar sites. The Nike Missile launch site is located just north of the Sandy Hook Ranger Station. The radar site is one mile north of the launch site along Hartshorne Drive. Both sites will be open from noon to 4 p.m.

August 25: Refuge Visitor Center Celebrates New Exhibits

"It's taken a few years of dedicated teamwork by staff and the community, but tonight proves it was all worthwhile," said Jamaica Bay Unit chief of interpretation Kathy Krause. Invitees were there to see the unveiling of the brand new exhibits at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station.

August 14 and 17: When You Hear the Words Cruise, Jamaica, Bay, Sunsets, Wildlife, Amazing, Scenery,…What Comes to Mind?

Does New York City come to mind? Well, it should! That’s because all those things can be seen and experienced on a Jamaica Bay Ecology Cruise, right here in New York City’s amazing backyard at Gateway National Recreation Area.

July 30: 24th Annual All-Women Lifeguard Tournament at the Sandy Hook Unit, New Jersey

Check-in time is 7:30 a.m. (eastern time). The captains’ meeting is 8:30 a.m. The Surfboat Challenge Race begins 9 a.m. All other events will follow.

July 28: Body Recovered off Jacob Riis Park

A body was recovered by the Marine Unit of the U.S. Park Police in the waters off Jacob Riis Park in Queens. The recovery took place shortly before noon. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner is investigating and will release any further details. (Note: At this time the National Park Service has no additional information to release. All follow-up should be with the Medical Examiner’s office.)

July 29: One Killed, Others Injured In Lightning Strike On Beach

A 38-year-old man who was walking on an unguarded beach in the park’s Sandy Hook Unit.

June 12: Hard-Shelled Oysters Not So Hardy Anymore

Gateway National Recreation Area Asks for Public Assistance in Identifying Eastern Oyster Populations in Jamaica Bay

April 28: Sandy Hook Coastal Defenses Day 

This annual event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m., highlights historic Fort Hancock's role in the defense of New York Harbor from the late 1800s through 1974.

March 17: Vehicle Fire Reveals Two Bodies

Police investigate the death of two individuals found in car at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

February 7: Miller Field Parking Project 

This construction project will provide access to a new parking lot on Miller Field.

January 3: Lifeguard Recruitment Efforts Underway

Each summer the National Park Service employs over 125 lifeguards at Gateway National Recreation Area.

2007 News

Gateway's OPEX Program Reaches the 50,000 Student Milestone October 4

On October 4, 2007 over 35 New York area educators gathered hand lenses, view finders, colored pencils, and inquisitive scientific hats to kick off the 33rd season of Operation Explore (OPEX) at Gateway National Recreation Area.

Sandy Hook Cold War Day September 23

The Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway is highlighting the Cold War era with a series of tours and military displays. 

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Volunteers restoring historic aircraft

Did You Know?
Each year some 4,000 Volunteers-in-Parks contribute over 80,000 hours of their time to protect Gateway's natural and historical resources and assist visitors.

Last Updated: October 20, 2010 at 06:51 MST