Cupsogue Beach County Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cupsogue Beach County Park |
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View of part of Cupsogue Beach County Park during Hurricane Jose.
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| Type | Regional park |
| Location | Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York |
| Nearest city | West Hampton Dunes |
| Area | 296 acres (1.20 km2) |
| Open | Seasonal |
Cupsogue Beach County Park is a cool park that covers about 296 acres (1.2 km²). It's located on the eastern part of Fire Island and the western part of Westhampton Island. People often call this area Dune Road. It's one of the barrier islands on the eastern side of Long Island. The park is surrounded by the big Atlantic Ocean, Moriches Inlet, and Moriches Bay.
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Where is Cupsogue Beach Park?
Cupsogue Beach County Park is mostly in the Town of Brookhaven. However, you can only get to it from the western end of Dune Road. This road is actually in the Town of Southampton.
The closest bridge to the park is for Jessup Lane. This bridge is in the village of Westhampton Beach. It sits between Moriches Bay and Moneybogue Bay. The eastern edge of the park touches the border between Brookhaven and Southampton. It also borders the village of West Hampton Dunes.
What Can You Do at Cupsogue Beach?
This amazing park is a barrier beach that spans 296 acres (1.2 km²). It offers lots of fun activities for everyone!
Fun Activities at the Park
- Swimming and Sunbathing: You can swim here when lifeguards are on duty. It's also a great spot to relax and soak up the sun.
- Fishing: If you love to fish, this park is a good place to cast your line.
- Scuba Diving: For those who enjoy exploring underwater, scuba diving is allowed on the bay side. The water there is about 12 feet (3.7 meters) deep. Remember, you can only dive during "slack tide" when the water isn't moving much.
- Special Events: The park also hosts different special events throughout the year.
Park Facilities
Cupsogue Beach has a pavilion with many helpful facilities:
- A place to buy food and snacks.
- Clean restrooms.
- A first aid center, with an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) on duty during summer.
- Showers and changing rooms.
You can also find camping spots and places for recreational vehicles (RVs). These are located along the road that runs next to the outer beach. Most of the park's main facilities are on the east side of Moriches Inlet. The part of the park on the west side is a protected natural area.
Wildlife at the Park
Cupsogue Beach is a special home for many piping plovers. These are small shorebirds that are protected by federal law. This means they are very important and need our help to stay safe.
History of Cupsogue Beach
The name Cupsogue comes from a Native American word. It means "a closed inlet" and dates back to the 1690s.
How the Inlet Was Formed
For a long time, the land that is now Cupsogue Beach was part of Fire Island. But in 1931, a big storm called a Nor'easter hit the area. This storm created the Moriches Inlet. The inlet then grew even bigger between 1933 and 1938.
Park Development
The Suffolk County Parks Department took over the park land in the 1950s. By the 1970s, Cupsogue Beach County Park got a new pavilion and a boardwalk. These additions made the park even better for visitors.
Hurricane Sandy's Impact
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused high tides that created a new opening. This opening connected the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay on the east side of the park. This new opening, called a breach, was about 150 feet wide. Less than a week later, another Nor'easter hit, and the breach grew to 300 feet wide!
To fix this, officials started a big project. They pumped in 200,000 cubic yards (152,911 cubic meters) of sand to close the breach. This project cost about $6 million.
The Beach Hut Fire
In 2014, a building called The Beach Hut at Cupsogue Beach was completely destroyed by a large fire.
