New York City Opens Surfing Beach in Rockaway
SurfriderNYC, Elected Officials, and Local Residents Celebrate Surf Area Designation
Rockaway, Queens, NY (April 20, 2005)
Waveriders throughout the metropolitan area are finally free to surf the Atlantic this week thanks to a newly designated "surf-access" zone in the Rockaways. The official designation by the NYC Dept. of Parks will take place on Friday, April 22, at 2:00 PM at Beach 91st Street in Rockaway, Queens, New York.
SurfriderNYC has worked intensely over the past three years with elected officials and numerous local residents to establish the first legal surfing beach in the City of New York. During that time Congresswoman Pheffer, Councilman Addabbo, Parks Commissioner Benepe, Queens Parks Commissioner Lewandowski, Rockaway NYPD Captain Piekarski, and SurfriderNYC Chair Banslaben focused on overturning an antiquated State Dept. of Health Code dating back to 1850 followed by the establishment of a Dept. of Parks guideline allowing public access.
"This is significant victory for SurfriderNYC, but more importantly, this is a monumental step-forward for the Rockaway community," said Surfrider Chair Joel Banslaben after being informed of the Surf Area Designation.
The Surf Area Designation comes as a relief to many – prior to 2005 surfers and other beachgoers received tickets for surfing, bathing, and simply walking on the beach in the Rockaways. Now local residents and visitor alike will be able to enjoy the waves without fear of breaking the law. This is especially important for local residents who have long been attracted to the area for its accessibility to the ocean.
Local Resident Victor Sinansky commented in an email recently, "The sport of surfing is an integral part of both the (Rockaway) community and the economy. Over the past 50 years the Rockaway community has been a hard working class community. Many of these residents choose the Rockaways as their home, for easy accessibility to surfing, fishing, scuba diving and boating. However, Rockaway is unique, in that it… is the only ocean front in New York City."
Mr. Banslaben added "The Rockaways are finally receiving the recognition they have long deserved as a top-tier coastal community. SurfriderNYC will continue its partnership with local residents and officials to ensure the highest quality of environmental resources possible."
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research & education. |
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