Robert Moses State Park (Long Island)
Encyclopedia
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
that is located in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The park lies in southern Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
on the western end of Fire Island
Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
, one of the central barrier Islands off the southern coast of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. It is known for its 5 mi (8 km) stretch of splendid beaches on the open Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and is a popular summer recreational destination in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area. The park is accessible from Long Island by the Robert Moses Causeway
Robert Moses Causeway
The Robert Moses Causeway is an long parkway in Suffolk County, New York. The parkway, originally known as the Captree Causeway, connects West Islip on Long Island to the barrier beach islands, such as Captree Island, Jones Beach Island, and the western tip of Fire Island, to the south. It is...
across Great South Bay
Great South Bay
Great South Bay is a lagoon situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.Robert Moses Causeway adjoins...
. This 875 acres (3.5 km²) facility is the oldest state park on Long Island.
Attractions
Pitch and putt
Pitch and putt is an amateur sport, similar to golf. The maximum hole length for international competitions is with a maximum total course length of . Players may only use three clubs; one of which must be a putter...
golf course. The course is fairly secluded and meanders through native beech trees and vegetation. It is typically open April through November and equipment rental is available. The park also contains four concession stands (one at each field), volleyball courts, first-aid stations, picnic areas, and a new playground at Field 5.
Immediately to the east of the park is the Fire Island National Seashore
Fire Island National Seashore
Fire Island National Seashore is a United States National Seashore that protects a section of Fire Island, an approximately long barrier island separated from Long Island by the Great South Bay....
. The ocean beach of the Seashore, next to this park, is known as Lighthouse Beach
Lighthouse Beach
Lighthouse Beach is a small section of the Fire Island National Seashore that is adjacent to Robert Moses State Park. It is notable for having sections that are officially designated as clothing optional...
and is a legal and family oriented Clothing optional beach. There is signage on the beach 150 feet (45.7 m) beyond the boundary of the Seashore to alert unsuspecting visitors that "Beyond this point, you may encounter nude sunbathers."
Since there is no parking at the Seashore itself, many day visitors park at Field 5 in order to walk to Lighthouse Beach, the Fire Island Lighthouse and Museum as well as the nearby community of Kismet
Kismet, New York
Kismet is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is the westernmost beach community on Fire Island, immediately west of Saltaire and east of the Fire Island Light...
. New York State officials estimate that about 30% of the users of Field 5 avail themselves of the Lighthouse Beach and the Lighthouse itself.
Access
The park is accessible by automobile from the Robert Moses Causeway, which connects Fire Island with mainland Long Island. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and parking is available, though fees vary by season. Charging starts each season during the first weekend in April. Vehicle fees are $10.00 during the peak season (Memorial Day through Mid-September) and $8.00 during the off-season (April through Memorial Day and Mid-September to the last weekend of November). Charging hours are 8:00am–4:00pm on weekdays and 7:00am–6:00pm on weekends and holidays. Patrons age 62 and over are eligible for free entry during weekdays (holidays excluded) with their New York State driver's license. Portions of the park are open 24 hours a day to fishermen and stargazers with the appropriate permit.This season Vehicle Use Fees will be collected at Robert Moses State Park until November 13th, 2011 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Suffolk Transit's S47 route also serves the beach seasonally connecting it with the Babylon
Babylon (LIRR station)
Babylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...
Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
station on the Babylon Branch
Babylon Branch
The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The term refers to the trains serving Montauk Branch stations from Valley Stream east to Babylon. The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of...
.
History
Initially named Fire Island State Park, the facility attracts about 3.5 million visitors a year.The west end of Fire Island was part of a Colonial grant to William "Tangier" Smith. In 1825 the federal government acquired the westerly tip to build a lighthouse and David Sammis bought about 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) to the east in 1855 and built the Surf Hotel.
In 1892, fears of a cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic spread by passengers on ships arriving in New York prompted the state to acquire the hotel property to establish a quarantine station. Irate local citizens obtained an injunction blocking the quarantine station and occupied the site for a while despite the arrival of troops.
Eventually the state decided the land would better serve as a park and established the Fire Island Park Commission in 1908 to run it. A 1918 fire destroyed the boardwalk and the few buildings on the site.
In 1924, the state established the Long Island State Park Commission
Long Island State Park Commission
The Long Island State Park Commission was created in 1924 by the New York State Legislature to build and operate parks and parkways on Long Island. Governor Al Smith appointed as its first President, Robert Moses, who had drafted the bill creating the Commission and who served until 1953...
headed by "master builder" Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
as part of a statewide park and parkway program, also run by Moses. The commission obtained from the federal government four miles (6 km) of beach west of the lighthouse that had been formed by shifting sand. In 1926 the first bathhouse was erected. After the hurricane of 1938 devastated the park, the commission decided to rebuild farther east near the lighthouse and in 1940, the first modern bathhouse opened to the public.
Ferry service was maintained from Babylon to the park until 1964 when Robert Moses Causeway opened and the park was renamed for Moses. Attendance boomed, so three parking fields with bathhouses were added.
100th Anniversary
The $700,000 rehabilitation of the bathhouse at Field #3, which originally opened to the public in June 1940, was completed largely by parks staff. The renovation included removal of a glass and metal storefront added to the building in the 1980s, allowing the food concession, beach shop and first aid offices to be enlarged with the construction of a new exterior, which complements the original architecture of the building. In addition, the park's cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
and clock have been restored to working order.
Inside, the bathrooms were completely renovated and reconfigured to allow more space and better traffic flow to the changing areas. A new family bathroom has been added to what was formerly closet space in the center entryway of the bathhouse. Renovation of the restrooms involved re-tiling the walls, the floors, new partitions and fixtures. The entire interior and exterior were repainted.
The renovations were part of a $132 million capital improvement spending plan in the 2008 state budget for New York's 178 state parks and 35 historic sites.
Robert Moses
The park, originally Fire Island State Park, was renamed for Robert MosesRobert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
, a "master builder" of mid 20th century New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, and Westchester County, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, president of the Long Island State Park Commission
Long Island State Park Commission
The Long Island State Park Commission was created in 1924 by the New York State Legislature to build and operate parks and parkways on Long Island. Governor Al Smith appointed as its first President, Robert Moses, who had drafted the bill creating the Commission and who served until 1953...
in the early and middle 20th century who oversaw the expansion of the state park system on Long Island.
It is one of two state parks in New York to bear this name "Robert Moses State Park". The other, Robert Moses State Park - Thousand Islands, is in northern New York along the St. Lawrence River.