• Gateway offers surprising natural diversity, outdoor recreation and historic discoveries within the largest metropolitan area in the U.S.

    Gateway

    National Recreation Area NY,NJ

This Week at Gateway NRA

Dragonfly

NPS PHOTO

Gateway has many hidden places that are waiting for you to explore this spring!

Spring Into Spring at Gateway!

The days grow longer. The weather gets warmer. There are signs of new life everywhere. This can only mean one thing: Spring has arrived!

Gateway is the perfect place to re-acquaint yourself with the great outdoors, after a long winter. The weather should be perfect for experiencing the national park in your backyard! Come on out, and enjoy it!

Take a hike on one of our many trails! Get the bikes out of winter storage, and go for a ride along our greenways! Or, join one of the many programs being offered, to find out about the natural world that comes to life in spring, or the history that lives here, all year long.

We would also like to invite you to attend the grand re-opening of Gateway's Ryan Visitor Center, at Floyd Bennett Field, on May 5 - 6. The historic former airport terminal, and headquarters for the naval air station, has been turned into real showplace, with new activities and exhibits, while bringing back the historic feel of the building.

 

For information on the re-opening, and for all of Gateway's programs, check out the links below:

This Week at Jamaica Bay Unit 
This Week at Sandy Hook Unit 
This Week at Staten Island Unit

Spring Programs and Events

Prefer to see a list of events for the entire season? Check out these spring calendars of events for each of Gateway's three units:

Jamaica Bay Spring Programs and Events (Brooklyn & Queens, NYC)
Sandy Hook Spring Programs and Events (Highlands, New Jersey)
Staten Island Spring Programs and Events (Staten Island, NYC)

 

Contact Information

Office hours at most sites are 9 AM to 5 PM.

Gateway National Recreation Area
Headquarters
210 New York Avenue
Staten Island, New York 10305

Public Affairs Office (Headquarters)
(718) 354 - 4606
e-mail us

Floyd Bennett Field Ranger Station* (Brooklyn)
Conducts all Jamaica Bay permit sales.
(718) 338 - 3799

*Note: The William Fitts Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field will re-open on May 5.

Jacob Riis Park / Fort Tilden (Queens, New York)
Jacob Riis Bathhouse is closed for the season, until May 26 (Memorial Day weekend.) For information and reservations for programs at Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park, please call (718) 318 - 4340.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (Queens, New York)
(718) 318 - 4340

Sandy Hook Visitor Center (Highlands, New Jersey)
(732) 872 - 5970

Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center (Staten Island, New York)
(718) 354-4500

Great Kills Park Contact Station (Staten Island, New York)
Conducts all permit sales for Staten island Unit.
(718) 987-6790

Miller Field (Staten Island, New York)
(718) 357-6970

  • No car? No problem! No car? No problem!

    Buses, subways and ferries take you to different units of Gateway National Recreation Area. Find out how to visit Gateway's areas on Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook and Staten Island.

  • Gateway is big. Use a map! Gateway is big. Use a map!

    Check out our map section for driving maps, trail maps and Google Earth maps of Sandy Hook, Staten Island and the areas of Jamaica Bay including Jacob Riis Park, Floyd Bennett Field and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Read More

  • Break the grip of the Rip (current) Break the grip of the Rip (current)

    Rip tides can carry even strong swimmers out to sea. Learn how to save your life by "breaking the grip of the rip." Read More

Did You Know?

Cyclists on Floyd Bennett Field.

Before they built the first airplane, the Wright Brothers were bicycle manufacturers.  Today, the historic runways of Gateway's Floyd Bennett Field are used by cyclists throughout the year.