News Release

Construction Begins on Jacob Riis Park Boardwalk

Jacob Riis Park

NPS Photo

News Release Date: September 11, 2024

Contact: Daphne Yun, 917 282 9393

Queens, NY –Construction begins on the Jacob Riis Park Boardwalk this week. This project focuses on the eastern end of the boardwalk and is expected to be complete by the end of December. Contractors will reconstruct the boardwalk surface, rehabilitate approximately twenty benches, and construct a new accessibility ramp near the bathhouse.

The boardwalk east of the bathhouse will be closed during this time, with pedestrian access routes to the beach at either end of the construction zone. At least one of these access routes will be open during construction. Currently construction is mainly expected Monday-Friday. It is expected that both pedestrian access routes will be open on the weekend.

This $2.7 million project is funded through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which reinvests fees collected at Gateway back into park projects and initiatives. This project not only improves the overall visitor experience and accessibility, but also helps to preserve an important historic element of Jacob Riis Park.

About Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway is a large diverse urban park with 27,000 acres spanning Sandy Hook in N.J. and Jamaica Bay and Staten Island in N.Y. It offers green spaces, beaches, wildlife, and outdoor recreation, all alongside historic structures and cultural landscapes. It is the 4^th most visited National Park Service unit with more than 9.2 million annual visitors. For more information about Gateway, visit www.nps.gov/gate.