Just last year, Jones Beach attracted 8.5 million beachgoers. At its busiest, in the 1970s before most had air conditioning, more than 13 million would visit annually. Even today, Jones remains the single largest and most visited public recreational swimming facility in the world. It outdraws Yosemite and even runs neck and neck with Niagara Falls for annual visitors. The beach itself it took a Herculean effort to create in that it involved dredging 40 million cubic yards of sand over 25 miles of the Great South Bay to raise parts of the state park from two to 14 feet above sea level. This was a necessity or the beach would be under water in every storm. The centerpiece monument is not just decoration, as it pumps half a million gallons of water a day. He somehow discovered that New York City owned a string of properties reserved for supplying water leading to Jones island, which could be turned into an access highway. As head of the Long Island Parks Commission, Moses prevailed in a legendary battles with localities get the project approved. Ever wonder where the term "parkway" comes from-it is the way cars got to Moses’ parks.ĭuring actual construction, Moses opted for elegant and extraordinarily expensive building material intended to blend in with the beach. Ohio Sandstone (gray with traces of tan and blue) and Barbizon brick (with its pattern of brownish-red that blends with the sand) were used for the east and west bathhouses as well the water tower modeled after the campanile of St. Moses realized that a nearly inaccessible island named for Thomas Jones, a 17th century whaler and privateer commissioned by King James II, could serve working class of New York City. He would actually travel in a small, slow motorboat around the island and sketch plans for the park and the road system. In the decade prior to Jones’ 1929 opening, New Yorkers were introduced to much of the recreation we take for granted. With an indefatigable will to give city residents places enjoy their time off, Moses had the foresight to locate, build and preserve parkland before the open space disappeared. The 2,400-acre-state park was literally the vision of one man, Robert Moses. Today, if you walk the beach and take an informal poll, only a minority of visitors will reveal a familiarity with the master builder. Once more controversial than our president, time has cooled passions to the point all can be thankful to Moses his park system. There are a number of other attractions and activities, such as the boardwalk designed to make you feel as if you are on an old-fashioned ocean liner, the central mall planted with 50,000 annuals, fishing piers, a nature center, the old amphitheater on the island’s north side, and, I have been told, a pool. The attraction has always been the width of the white sand and an atmosphere which seems as natural as a gift from the creator. Most famous beachfronts are encumbered by large hotels, piers and amusement parks. For Jones, there is little commercial feel.
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