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Beat the Heat at Staten Island's Public Beaches

By Nicholas Rizzi | June 2, 2012 8:57am | Updated on June 29, 2012 10:16am
Anthoney Findley, St. George, reels in a big one at the Midland Beach fishing pier.
Anthoney Findley, St. George, reels in a big one at the Midland Beach fishing pier.
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DNAInfo/Nicholas Rizzi

STATEN ISLAND — Looking to beat the heat or work on your tan at the beach this summer, but don't feel like leaving the borough? DNAInfo.com New York can help with a roundup of the public beaches on Staten Island.

Most of the beaches also feature other activites — like fishing, biking and kayaking — for spending your summer afternoons, if you a little sun-shy.

Here's a roundup of the beaches on the Island, and what to do at them:

Midland Beach:

Hop on the S51 or S52 bus to Midland Beach, near Father Capodanno Boulevard.

The beach has nearby bicycle and skate paths, a fishing pier near the start of the Franklin D. Roosevelt boardwalk, an astroturf soccer field and the Ben Soto public Skatepark.

The beach area also has basketball courts, handball courts, and playgrounds.

In the mood for something a bit less physical?

Grab your remote-control car and race on the oval track near the Midland Avenue entrance, or fire up some steaks and at the public barbecue grills located between Midland and Lincoln avenues.

South Beach:

Continue on the S51 or S52 to neighboring South Beach, connected to Midland Beach by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk.

South Beach has bicycle and skate paths on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and the Boardwalk Cafe concession stand with ice cream, burgers and other snacks.

If you want a fancier meal, walk down the boardwalk to the South Fin Grill, 300 Father Capodanno Blvd.

After eating, relax with a game of bocce ball at the nearby courts, or kayak and canoe at the take-off point near the Sand Lane entrance.

Cedar Grove Beach:

If you're in the mood for just some quality time on the beach to try and finally finish "Infinite Jest," head down to Staten Island's newest beach.

The Cedar Grove Beach, part of Great Kills Park on Ebbitts Street and Cedar Grove Avenue, opened was a private beach until the city closed up the rental community and opened up the beach to the public last year.

The Parks Department plans to fully demolish the vacant bungalows, sometimes used for filming shows such as "Boardwalk Empire," and build a new playground, rehabilitate the current parking areas and sports area, and add a new bike path.

But for now, take the S76 bus from the New Dorp stop on the Staten Island Railway, or grab the S86 to get to the newest public beach in the city.

Wolfes Pond Beach:

If you not in the mood to trek all the way from Tottenville to South Beach, get your sun fix at Wolfes Pond Beach in Prince's Bay on the South Shore.

Enjoy 14 miles of beach and water or fish at the pier on Cornelia Avenue and Hylan Boulevard. Part of Wolfe's Pond Park, the beach also has nearby food trucks, playgrounds, spray showers, dog runs or a .75-mile trail for hiking.

The park also features a roller hockey rink and tennis courts.

Federal Beaches:

In addition to city-run beaches, Staten Island also has two federal beaches, Great Kills Park and Miller Field, in the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Both parks feature biking, and surf and shore fishing (a $50 parking permit is required for fishing).

Great Kills Park also has a boating pier, while Miller Field has baseball, soccer, football fields available by permit.