Dubbed "The People's Beach," Jacob Riis Park part of Gateway National Recreation Area is a popular summer destination steeped in history. Today its sand, surf, seaside recreation areas and famous Art Deco bathhouse is a popular destination for all New York City.
Opened in 1932, the restored bathhouse an architectural landmark is home to a variety of ranger-led programs and history exhibits. Facilities available in season include the Riis Park Pitch and Putt Golf Course, ball courts and food concessions.
The park is named in honor of Jacob Riis, the famed New York City journalist and photographer who documented the plight of the poor and working class in the city's tenements. Today, the park's ocean beach and landscaped walkways, boardwalks and courtyards still provide city dwellers, many of them new immigrants, an opportunity to spread out and enjoy the open air.
Constructed on the site of one of the first US naval air stations, the park was designed in 1936 by innovative Park Commissioner Robert Moses, who had also created Jones Beach on Long Island in 1929. Moses envisioned Riis Park as a Jones Beach for poor immigrants, a destination accessible by public transportation and closer to the city. Jacob Riis Park was transferred to the control of the National Park Service in 1972.
