Beach at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, Gateway National Recreation Area
Staten Island Unit Home Page | Fort Wadsworth Home Page
The beach at Fort Wadsworth, part of Gateway National Recreation Area, is located at the south end near Sea Bee Park, which is now Camp Gateway Staten Island. There is a two-dozen-car roadside parking lot just past the campground that is the closest to the beach, and a large parking lot prior to the campground at the corner of USS North Carolina and Hudson roads that can be used if the roadside lot fills up. Do not park in the campground parking lot unless you are a registered camper because you will get a ticket.
The National Park Service prohibits swimming at the Fort Wadsworth beach because the current is strong and there are no lifeguards. I do not recommend swimming here because you might as well go swimming at your local garbage dump. It’s no reflection on the National Park Service, and not the fault of park guests. It’s just that the beach is next to New York City. As you can see in the photo below, bathers didn’t leave behind a fire extinguisher, a plastic crate, and a wooden plank.
Trash on Fort Wadsworth Beach on Staten Island, Gateway National Recreation Area
The Rangers at Fort Wadsworth and the families of those living at the Coast Guard station on the hill above the beach have a monthly cleanup. The two photos on this page were taken within fifty yards of each other, one looking left and one looking right. The beach looks pretty clean in one and awful in the other. I’m guessing this is the dividing line between the cleaned and uncleaned section of the beach. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long the clean area stays clean, for trash washes up each morning, and it’s particularly bad after a storm.
If you are looking for a place to swim within the Staten Island Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, try the beach at Great Kills Park. It is a little cleaner and has lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
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Last updated on December 2, 2024
