News Release

Demolition of Beach Center D Begins at Sandy Hook

Beach Center at Area D

NPS Photo

News Release Date: May 9, 2019

Contact: Daphne Yun, 718-815-3651

Middletown Township, N.J. – The demolition of the concession building at Beach Center at Area D of Sandy Hook has started. This building, and all of the beach centers at Sandy Hook, suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy.

Beach Center D was previously home to the Seagull’s Nest, a popular restaurant with beachgoers. After Hurricane Sandy the concessioner was unable to cover the cost of repairs, and thus reached a settlement with the National Park Service upon which the contract was cancelled by mutual agreement.

Following the hurricane, the park’s original plan was to rehabilitate the building. However, an engineering evaluation revealed that the structure was unsound and posed a serious safety risk. 

The National Park Service will be evaluating replacement options for Beach Center D. The park wants to recreate the experience the public once enjoyed at the beach center and will be considering options that not only meet visitors’ needs but also incorporates resilient design features in the face of future storm events such as Hurricane Sandy.

“This is a wistful moment in our hurricane recovery process,” acknowledged Superintendent Jen Nersesian. “Many good times were had watching the sunset from that deck. But it is a step forward to the next stage of building back, and building stronger and smarter for the future.”



About Gateway National Recreation Area

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