Rockaway Beach is the quintessential NYC beach, vital to a perfect summer, and though the “Rockaway Rocket” express ferry service has made travel to this beach much easier, we unfortunately won’t be able to fully enjoy the beach once again.
According to NYC Parks, beach closures will continue throughout the summer at Rockaway Beach this season, though thankfully the closures will impact a much smaller span of space this year compared to last, with only 10-15 blocks being closed to the public.
Plus, the good news is that the entirety of the Rockaway boardwalk will remain open.
The closures are due to The Army Corps’ ongoing Atlantic Shorefront Resiliency Project which began back in 2020 to strengthen and replenish the beach.
The $336 million project is working to address severe erosion and flooding from coastal storms by constructing 14 new stone groin structures and rehabilitating five existing groins. They will also reinforce the dune system and replenish the sand on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Rockaway Peninsula. The project is expected to continue through 2026.
“Rockaway Beach is a vibrant, much-loved summertime destination for residents and tourists alike, and we’re proud that this summer much of the beach will be open while this necessary resiliency work continues…I am looking forward to a wonderful Rockaway beach season this year,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue.
All NYC beaches will open for the 2023 summer season on Saturday, May 27, and will remain open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
And, once beach weather arrives, here’s our Ultimate Guide To Rockaway Beach To Have The Perfect Summer.