New York’s ever-growing and changing beachfront neighborhood
Maybe it was the new ferry line, which travels from Pier 11 on Wall Street to Rockaway Beach, or perhaps it was the New York City tradition of building back bigger and better after tragedies like Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Either way, it’s safe to say Rockaway Beach is officially a destination. Referred to as a downtrodden NYC curiosity made locally famous in the 1980s by hometown punk rock band The Ramones, Rockaway has recently become a popular surfing destination that has led to a neighborhood boom. “Covid gave the area a big push; there were a lot of people looking to get away from the city, so there was a big increase in activity in the Rockaway Park area,” says Glenn Davis, a broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate for over 5 years. “But things have really been changing. Younger demographics are making Rockaway Park home.”
Rockaway Beach and ocean views
When thinking of the Rockaway Park area, of course the famous Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk should be mentioned. Residents can enjoy the waterfront views, a variety of concessions and the closest surfing beach before heading to either Long Beach or Jersey. “The beach, the people and the community are all great, but the beach is why I’m there,” Davis says. When locals do not want to deal with sand, they can head to the smaller Tribute Park on the northern side of the neighborhood, which offers a picnic area and small gardens with scenic views of downtown New York City.
Weekly and annual events along Long Island
Many events in the Rockaway Park area take place either on the beach or at The Rockaway Hotel. This can be a wide range of events, from smaller weekly events like exercising on the beach at Cardio Punch, to larger annual events like the Rockaway Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which takes place on the first Saturday in March The parade ends with vendors, food and music at the newly constructed Rockaway Hotel and Spa, which offers additional restaurants and bars, "It’s a stunning luxury hotel,” Davis says.
Weekly and annual events along Long Island
In Rockaway Park, condos and single-family homes often stand side-by-side. What used to be a collection of older Foursquare and Cape Cod-style homes built in the early 1900s is now becoming a more modern area, with the recent “big uptick in development with developers reinvesting in the neighborhood,” Davis says. Now, more houses are being renovated, and condos are rising above the sandy beaches. Prices here can range from $200,000 to $800,000 depending on the build year, with many also choosing small front yards but making up for it with the beach being less than a mile away.
Dining and drinks abound on Rockaway Beach
Beach 116th Street is a small two-block strip where most of the shopping and dining is located, but many locals head just outside the neighborhood for dining and drinks. Sitting on the Jamacia Bay is The Wharf, a casual seafood restaurant that boasts its view of the Manhattan skyline. In the summers, locals love to stop at the nearby booth, Tacoway Beach. For a night out on the town, the nearby Connolly's Bar is famous among many New Yorkers and has been serving popular frozen drinks since 1962. Groceries are an easy feat in the neighborhood, with the local Stop & Shop being a short walk in the neighborhood.
Rockaway’s education options
Rockaway Park students can choose to start their education at PS/MS 114 Belle Harbor School, which receives a B-plus rating on Niche and serves students from prekindergarten to eighth grade. Students can then choose to finish up at the A-rated Scholar’s Academy, which is in the top 1% of schools in the state of New York.
The NY metro and sidewalks
The Rockaway Park-Beach 116 St Metro station is in the center of the neighborhood, offering New Yorkers access to the beach or downtown by subway. “It is just a quick jaunt, only about 45 minutes by train from the city and then you can be on the beach,” Davis says. Locals also commonly use the sidewalks and boardwalk, making cars not a large priority in the area, but those who do drive commonly take Beach Channel Drive to reach Long Island and downtown.
Floods and safety
While residents can enjoy the joys of the sun and sand, they must also be wary of the water, with over half of the neighborhood being at a heightened flood risk. This makes flood insurance mandatory for many homes, especially after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. For more distant trips, locals can head to JFK International Airport, which is 10 miles to the north. For medical care, The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center is 2.9 miles down Beach Channel Drive.
