Ocean Parkway (Long Island)
Ocean Parkway | |
|---|---|
Ocean Parkway highlighted in red | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by NYSDOT | |
| Length | 15.59 mi[1] (25.09 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  Meadowbrook State Parkway / Bay Parkway at Jones Beach |
 Wantagh State Parkway at Jones Beach Robert Moses Causeway at Captree State Park | |
| East end | Captree Boat Basin at Captree State Park |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Counties | Nassau, Suffolk |
| Highway system | |
The Ocean Parkway is a 15.59-mile (25.09 km) parkway that traverses Jones Beach Island between Jones Beach State Park and Captree State Park on Long Island, New York, in the United States. It begins at the southern terminus of the Meadowbrook State Parkway and heads east across Jones Beach Island, intersecting the south end of the Wantagh State Parkway before ending just past the southern terminus of the Robert Moses Causeway. The highway is designated New York State Route 909D (NY 909D), an unsigned reference route.
Route description
The Ocean Parkway begins at a cloverleaf interchange with the southern terminus of the Meadowbrook State Parkway and the Bay Parkway in Jones Beach State Park. Proceeding eastward, the Ocean Parkway parallels the Bay Parkway through Jones Beach State Park, running along the beachfront and past multiple recreational facilities. Just after a connection to the Bay Parkway, the four-lane parkway passes a parking lot for Jones Beach, along with a turnoff into a secondary lot for the bathhouse and the Jones Beach Theatre. In front of that turnoff, the westbound lanes pass two ramps that lead to a large parking lot that spans the gap between the Ocean and Bay parkways. After the parking lot, the Ocean Parkway enters a roundabout around the Jones Beach Water Tower (locally known as "The Pencil"), marking the southern terminus of the Wantagh State Parkway.[2]
After the Wantagh, the Ocean Parkway continues east along the beachfront, passing another large parking lot on the westbound lanes and access to the Jones Beach Pitch and Putt on the eastbound lanes. The four-lane parkway then begins to run between the beachfront and the shore for Zachs Bay, a section of the Great South Bay. Passing multiple u-turn ramps between directions, the parkway soon leaves Jones Beach State Park and enters a piece of the town of Oyster Bay. Passing south of Guggenheim Pond, the Ocean continues east as the four-lane arterial it was in the park, soon entering Tobay Beach Park, where the median expands for a short distance. In the center of the park, the parkway reaches the parking lots on the westbound lanes and the Tobay Beach bathhouse on the eastbound lanes. A cross under is provided under the lanes of the Ocean for people to safely cross the parkway.[2]
A short distance from the bathhouse, the Ocean Parkway leaves Tobay Beach Park and enters the Suffolk County town of Babylon. Entering the hamlet of West Gilgo Beach, the parkway runs alongside many beachfront residences, with an intersection from the westbound lanes to the community. Soon entering Gilgo Beach, the Ocean passes several more bayside residences along the Great South Bay. The parkway expands to six lanes as it passes the access to Gilgo Beach and the cross under between the parking lot and the beach. Near the cross under, the parking lot is accessed via a tolled entrance from the westbound lanes. As the Ocean Parkway leaves Gilgo Beach, the six-lane parkway crosses into Gilgo State Park.[2]
Through Gilgo State Park, the Ocean Parkway develops a wide, grassy median between the six lanes. Passing another section of the Great South Bay, the parkway soon leaves the park, where the median returns, thins out and access is provided to another beach and recreational facilities, as the road passes the Cedar Beach Golf Course. Entering another section of Gilgo State Park, the Ocean Parkway evens out eastward before leaving the park for the hamlet of Oak Beach. Crossing north of several oceanside residences, the parkway soon crosses between the Atlantic Ocean and Oak Island as it reaches the center of the hamlet. Before paralleling Captree Island, the parkway expands with a wider median once again, entering Captree State Park. A short distance into the park, the Ocean Parkway enters a cloverleaf interchange with the Robert Moses Causeway.[2]
After the causeway, the Ocean Parkway reduces to four lanes as it crosses into the town of Islip, reaching the tollbooths that mark the eastern terminus of the Ocean. On the other side of the tollbooths, the right-of-way enters another roundabout and connects to another beach and the local marina in Captree State Park.[2]
Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway
In March 2021, the Ocean Parkway Shared Use Path was completed, making it possible to bicycle or walk from Jones Beach West End beaches to the Jones Beach Theater and onward into Suffolk County, ending at Captree State Park.[3][4] The Greenway connects into mainland Long Island via the Ellen Farrant Shared-Use Path alongside the Wantagh State Parkway terminating in Seaford's Cedar Creek Park.[5][6]
History
Originally, there had been plans to extend the parkway to nearby Fire Island, and two attempts were made to authorize construction. However, residents resisted the plan: the first time for economic reasons, the second for environmental reasons. Although in 1964, Robert Moses Causeway was extended from its original terminus on Captree Island to Fire Island leading to the potential extension of Ocean Parkway, park legislation in the 1960s blocked further plans to extend the parkway.
The eastbound direction of the parkway was significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.[7][8] The westbound side of the road was reconfigured into a two-lane, two-way highway while the eastbound lanes were repaired.[9]
Exit list
All exits are unnumbered.
| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | Jones Beach State Park | 0.00 | 0.00 |  Meadowbrook State Parkway north | Continuation north |
| Bay Parkway – Theater, West End Beaches | Interchange | ||||
| 2.00 | 3.22 | Wantagh State Parkway north | Roundabout; southern end of Wantagh Parkway | ||
| Suffolk | West Gilgo Beach | 7.00 | 11.27 | West Gilgo Beach | Eastbound access via nearby u-turn |
| Captree State Park | 15.27 | 24.57 | Robert Moses Causeway – Robert Moses State Park | Interchange | |
| 15.59 | 25.09 | Captree State Park Toll Booths | End of state maintenance | ||
| 15.70 | 25.27 | Captree Boat Basin | Traffic circle | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
References
- ^ a b "2007 Traffic Data Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Microsoft; Nokia (December 31, 2012). "overview map of the Ocean Parkway" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Governor Cuomo announces completion of the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway's final section three months ahead of schedule" (Press release). New York State Department of Transportation. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
Completion of the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway's third and final phase completes eight years of work on shared use paths along the entirety of the Jones Beach Barrier Island. The Greenway's first phase was completed in 2013 and runs from the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway along the Wantagh State Parkway to the Jones Beach Boardwalk. The second phase that runs from Jones Beach to Tobay Beach was completed in 2014. The trail also connects to the Jones Beach Shared Use Leisure Path on the barrier island's west end, which was completed ahead of schedule in 2019.
- ^ "Final Design Report: Ocean Parkway Shared-use Path; Wantagh State Parkway to Robert Moses Causeway, Nassau and Suffolk counties in cooperation with the Towns of Islip, Babylon, Oyster Bay and Hempstead" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. March 2011. p. II-3. PIN 0006.11. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
🚲 Get it constructed ASAP. We have beautiful beaches that should be accessible other than to driving a car
- ^ "Long, scenic and family-friendly bike trails on Long Island: Scenic Ride: Ellen Farrant Bicycle Path". Newsday. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
Also known as the Jones Beach Bikeway, this is the long trail one sees while driving down the Wantagh Pkwy. south of Merrick Rd. The trip technically starts at the entrance of Cedar Creek Park (3340 Merrick Rd., Seaford). After riding through the park a bit, you'll see a statue of a man on a bicycle — from there, continue along the path to the bikeway which hugs the east side of the parkway. [...]The route passes through Field 5 at Jones Beach State Park before connecting to the Ocean Parkway Coastal Greenway, which follows Ocean Pkwy. and wraps at Tobay Beach. If including the Greenway, the ride is about 7.6 miles from Cedar Creek Park; end at Field 5 and it's around 5.3 miles.
- ^ "Jones Beach Bike Trail". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ Gallucci, Jaclyn (November 6, 2012). "Long Island Hurricane Sandy Road Closings & Delays – Tuesday". Long Island Press. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Parts of Jones Beach Reopen After Sandy". WNBC-TV. New York City. Associated Press. November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ Crichton, Sarah (November 17, 2012). "Challenges ahead in rebuilding of Ocean Parkway". AM New York. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
External links
