Gateway National Recreation Area

Touch the warm bricks of a Civil War-era fort; watch scores of migrating hawks soar overhead on their way to Central America; examine a rare, delicate orchid; help volunteers restore vintage aircraft; or build a sandcastle, enjoy a picnic with family, and surf along a sandy beach. All of these opportunities—and more—are possible at Gateway National Recreation Area, in the shadow of Manhattan.

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 stopover at Gateway during their arduous seasonal migrations along the Atlantic coast. Gateway's buildings, landscapes, and archaeological sites offer great samples of America's coastal defenses from the Revolutionary War through the Cold War.

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Threats

Gateway National Recreation Area is captured in a quagmire of unrealized potential. Read more about efforts to improve Gateway > >

State:

New Jersey, New York

Acreage:

26,606.63

Category:

National Recreation Area

Established:

10/27/1972

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

marci

April 9, 2013

Gunnison Beach at Sandy Hook is my favorite place to go all summer. I love the freedom it allows me. The ocean, view of NYC, and the people. Clothing optional of course is the greatest part. I've been going there since 1994. Thought it might not open this year. Sooooooo happy it will.

Jennifer Errick, Editor at NPCA

October 26, 2012

Barbara, thanks for working so passionately to protect Gateway National Recreation Area. NPCA looks forward to discussing this topic further with the Park Service and the local community to ensure the best decisions are put in place to protect Gateway for the future.

Barbara Pearson

October 16, 2012

How come no mention of your support for H.R. 2606 which "authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area."

Matt

May 19, 2012

Gateway NRA is my close-to-home beach refuge. I don't really care to go to any other beaches on the Jersey shore, because Gateway is so natural and somewhat undeveloped. It has a big Holly forest, paved trail for hiking/biking, a cool fort at the end of it, and good beaches. There's a marine bio lab there too but I haven't been to that yet.

Jenny

November 10, 2011

I live near Cheesequake Park. It's a wonderful place and I go frequently. I almost prefer it in the off-season as it's more quiet. I do wish fishing had a more restricted area around the lake though. I wanted to get some pictures of egrets but people were fishing at every decent place I could get a good shot.

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