Great Kills Park

The Great Kills Park is a public park in Great Kills on Staten Iceland in New York City. He is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Is managed by the National Park Service. The park has a size of about 2.3 km ² and includes salt marshes, woodlands, and about 3 kilometers of beach in the four sections of New Dorp Beach, Cedar Grove Beach, Oakwood Beach, and Fox Beach on the Lower New York Bay. The name of Great Kills comes from the Dutch, meaning many streams.

History

In 1860, the businessman John J. Crooke bought the peninsula and lived in a wooden house at the booth In 1929 the City of New York Crooke 's Point and the surrounding lands bought and began to convert them to the park. Through the Great Depression ( Great Depression ), the work and so the park could be opened to the public only in 1949 delayed. In 1973 he was part of the Gateway National Recreation Area and thus National Recreation Area.

In the park, the Great Kills Harbor is the created when you Crooke 's Iceland has joined with dredged sediment with the Staten Iceland.

Fauna

The park is regularly visited by different species of birds that use the different habitats in the park.

Things to Do

Besides the beaches, the park offers the opportunity after receipt of an appropriate permit ( $ 15 ) for use of rowing boats and kayaks. Fishing is also possible after receipt of an appropriate permit. A model airfield, picnic areas and several playgrounds is also located in the park. Paved roads provide the opportunity for hiking and biking.

Environmental problems

Almost half of the park has been used in the past as a landfill. In the sand of the park in 2005 radium ( 226Ra ), a radioactive substance is used, among other medical treatments have been found. Some of these contaminants that were in 30-40 cm depth has now been cleared, a total of 12 points so far are known in which a radioactive contamination was detected. At the source, a 200 - times higher than the natural radiation was measured surface. An extensive renovation is planned for August 2012. For this reason, about half of the park is currently closed to the public and some leisure activities are not open or only partially usable.

Accessibility

The main entrance is located on Hylan Boulevard, where different bus lines run the MTA. The Buffalo Street leads into the park. The Staten Iceland Railway Station, the Bay Terrace near the entrance. By boat you can reach the park via the Great Kills Harbor.