Sandy Hook Unit
On Saturday and Sunday, July 18 & 19, the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area will be participating in the nationwide Fee Free Weekend at America’s National Parks. Although Sandy Hook has no entrance fee, a beach parking fee of $10 per car is charged between Memorial Day and Labor Day. On the weekend of July 18 & 19 all beach parking will be FREE. In addition to this weekend, there will be one more Fee Free Weekend at Sandy Hook this summer: August 15 & 16.
Visitors are reminded that Sandy Hook only has 5,000 parking spaces and on busy weekends during the summer season these spaces can fill up during the morning hours. When all parking spots are filled, the entrance to the park will close until a sufficient number of cars have left.
Visitors should also remember that the New Jersey Department of Transportation is still working to replace the Highlands Bridge at the entrance to Sandy Hook. This project slows the flow of cars into the park and also causes delays when exiting. The National Park Service is very concerned about the visitor experience in light of these delays, and has taken new steps this year to reduce the exiting delays.
Dave Avrin, the Sandy Hook Unit Superintendent, said it best when he offered this advice: “Arriving early and leaving early is the best way to avoid traffic delays." He added, “Although swimming is only permitted when our lifeguards go on duty at 10 a.m., sitting on the beach and enjoying the early morning sun is a great experience at Sandy Hook." For additional information, call 732-872-5970.
Jamaica Bay Unit
On Saturday and Sunday, July 18 & 19, Jacob Riis Park, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, will also be participating in the nationwide Fee Free Weekend at America’s National Parks. Although Jacob Riis Park, located on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, has no entrance fee, a beach parking fee of $5 per car is charged between Memorial Day and Labor Day. On the weekend of July 18 & 19 all beach parking will be FREE.
In addition to this weekend, there will be one more Fee Free Weekend at Jacob Riis Park on August 15 & 16. The nationwide Fee Free Weekend program is designed to help the many Americans who are facing tough economic times by making it easier to visit a National Park.
For more information on Jacob Riis Park call 718-318-4300.
For more information on the Fee Free Weekend at other National Parks visit: www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
