Riis Park, Queens, New York

While my grandson was visiting us recently we went to Jacob Riss Park for his first view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Jacob Riis Park in the New York City borough of Queens, is part of the Jamaica Bay Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and managed by the National Park Service, and lies just west of Rockaway Beach. The day we visited it was overcast and cool, but I'll go back again on a sunny day and show you how pretty it is.

Besides the lifeguards on duty, we were practically the only people there. It was peaceful and also a great time to beach comb.

Opened in 1932, the park is named in honor of Jacob Riis, the famed New York City journalist and photographer who documented the plight of the poor and working class. Riis beach is also known as "The People's Beach" and is comprised of 14 bays, and during the warm days of summer, each bay has its own distinctive personality, which you can read about in this New York Times article.

I grew up in an area of Brooklyn that was just a bridge crossing away, and often spent summer days here, as it was very accessible by public bus.

Unfortunately, every summer there have been drownings in this area, and at other New York City beaches, caused by powerful rip currents that can occur offshore. Rip currents are the number-one concern for beach lifeguards: About 80 percent of all beach rescues are caused by them.

This lifeguard was bundled up because it was chilly, but she was very alertly watching the ocean.

We also experienced a little bit of a "Bay Watch" moment when these young lifeguards ran by.......

...... and at the beginning of each bay would stop and do push-ups as part of their ongoing training. New York City lifeguards must pass a very vigorous training program which includes:

40 hours of training.
A CPR course.
Swimming tests and a written test.
They must be able to swim 440 yards in 7 minutes and 40 seconds to qualify for a pool assignment, or 6 minutes and 40 seconds to qualify for a beach assignment. Beach lifeguards must also complete a 300-yard ocean swim.

Riis Park is home to many shorebirds, including the American Oyster Catcher seen above.

We enjoyed watching this bird from afar as it diligently used its long beak to search the shoreline for food.

Success! She hurriedly carried her catch over the sands to her protected nesting area to feed her young.
There have been sightings of the endangered Piping Plovers, Sanderlings and Sandpipers, among other birds at Riis Park.

Near Riis Park is The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the northeastern United States --over 9,000 acres. Jamaica Bay is the best place in New York City to observe seasonal migration of birds. The bay's islands and ponds are a key layover spot for birds along the Atlantic Flyway. During the spring and late summer, it's possible to see hundreds of different birds. More than 330 bird species that have been sighted at the refuge over the last 25 years; that is nearly half the species in the Northeast!