Greetings from Gateway National Recreation Area

The summer I moved to New York, I spent the work week looking forward to the drive out to the the People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park. I spent the afternoon in the waves, in between trying kombucha for the first time and finding myself one towel over from a girl I once harbored a week-long crush on in Berlin. The People’s Beach has been a gay landmark since the 1940s, and I’m grateful that its protected status means it’ll be around for years to come.

Sincerely,
Vanessa

Gateway National Recreation Area

Created in 1972, Gateway is located in the outer New York-New Jersey Harbor, protecting more than 26,000 acres of land and offering an array of recreational, cultural and natural experiences. More than 330 species of birds and 71 species of butterflies live within the park or stop over at Gateway during their seasonal migrations. Gateway's buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites offer great examples of America's coastal defenses from the Revolutionary War through the Cold War.

State(s): New Jersey New York,

Established: 1972

National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!

{{ active ? "Cancel" : "Begin"}}

Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.

In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!

Here’s your unique story page link:

{{ storyUrl }}

* indicates Required fields

Click to choose a file to upload

Submitting your story means that you agree to our Terms of Service

More Stories

  • Greetings from Gateway National Recreation Area

    The Jamaca Bay wildlfe refuge .A hidden jewel in an urban city. A wetland habitat of biodiversity.It is a major crossover for bird migration and nesting.It is a living classroom and laboratory for citizen science and on effects of climate change.Salt marshes and inter tidal areas harbor multitudes of organisms…

  • Greetings from Gateway National Recreation Area

    Gateway's Atlantic coast offers unique habitats, rich history, hip beach culture and peaceful sunrises. It's a place that contemplates the earth's greatest challenges, while providing sacred pockets of serenity in the largest metropolis in America. Welcome to the wild, wild coast of New York and New Jersey!

  • Greetings from Gateway National Recreation Area

    When you live in a big city but nothing but building buses subways and little parks Gateway National Recreation Area is there for our enjoyment in for the future of our children and this great country of ours and for the community at-large we should go all in our power…

Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now