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Contact: Raina T. Williams, 718-354-4607 Today, the National Park Service issued two prospectuses for proposals to operate two beach clubs at Gateway National Recreation Area: Silver Gull Beach Club and Breezy Point Beach Club, both of which are located on the Rockaway Peninsula in New York. The new contract would allow the beach clubs to operate for approximately ten years, providing similar services to those that currently exist. "Getting the new concession contract in place will insure that beach clubs continue to provide uninterrupted service to existing and new customers," said Superintendent Linda Canzanelli. "We are required by law to have an open competition to determine who will run the beach clubs. This means that we will get the best possible operator for beach club members and for Gateway." The Silver Gull and Breezy Point Beach Clubs offer a unique beach experience for thousands of visitors each year, allowing resource-based recreation in addition to other services. Dating back several decades before Gateway was established by Congress in 1972 as a national park, these beach clubs offer rentals of cabanas, cabinettes and bath cabins. The clubs have become a tradition in the Rockaways, where families gather year after year. They have become a critical component of the local Rockaway economy as well as a point of contact between the local community and Gateway National Recreation Area. Both clubs were operated under a special use permit until a 2007 report by the Department of the Interior's Office of the Inspector General raised issues. As a result, the park placed the clubs under a temporary three-year concession contract. These non-competitive contracts, which expire next year, cannot be renewed or extended. The new competitive ten-year contract will provide long-term stability to these businesses and to the visitors who enjoy their services, while placing the park in compliance with Public Law 105-391. Information about these business opportunities, including how to submit proposals is available at https://concessions.nps.gov/prospectuses.htm. The NPS intends to award the new contracts in spring 2012. Each of the two contracts for concessionaires would begin April 1, 2012 and continue through December 31, 2021. Operations for the 2012 season will commence on schedule as outlined in the new contracts. The NPS is conducting site visits Thursday, October 6, 2011, to allow only interested parties to tour the concession facilities. Possible concessioners interested in attending the site visit must RSVP beforehand; please e-mail us. Those considering a bid will be provided additional information regarding the time and location to meet for the site visit. Please include in your email the number of people who will be attending. About Gateway National Recreation Area Established in 1972, Gateway National Recreation Area has more than 26,000 acres of marshes, wildlife sanctuaries and recreational athletic facilities, miles of sandy beaches; indoor and outdoor classrooms; picnicking and camping areas, as well as historic structures and military installations, airfields, a lighthouse, and adjacent waters around New York harbor. The park offers urban residents in two states a wide range of recreational opportunities year round. With more than nine million visitors a year, it is the third most visited national park in the country. For information about Gateway's upcoming public programs, see the park's Web site at https://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm -NPS- |
Last updated: May 1, 2018