Father Capodanno Boulevard facts for kids

Father Capodanno Boulevard, once known as Seaside Boulevard, is a major road on Staten Island, a borough of New York City. It runs from north to south through neighborhoods like Arrochar, South Beach, Midland Beach, and New Dorp Beach. This boulevard runs right next to the South Beach Boardwalk and its public park.

A Road with a Special Name

Monument to Vincent Capadanno, at the corner of Sand Lane and Father Capodanno Boulevard

Father Capodanno Boulevard was first planned by Robert Moses, a well-known New York City parks commissioner. He imagined it as the start of a larger highway called Shore Front Drive.

The road was built between 1955 and 1958. It was part of a project to improve the boardwalk area. The first part of the boulevard opened in 1957. It was originally named Seaside Boulevard.

In 1976, the road's name was changed. It was renamed to honor Vincent R. Capodanno. He was a local Roman Catholic chaplain. Chaplain Capodanno was killed in the Vietnam War in 1967 while helping others.

What Does the Boulevard Look Like?

Today, this road is a main route for the communities and parks along Staten Island's East Shore. The boulevard has six lanes for vehicles. There are four lanes for driving. There is also a parking lane with turning areas for southbound traffic. A bus lane is available for northbound traffic.

Before 2010, there were bicycle lanes, but they were removed. A grassy area divides the northbound and southbound traffic. Many people use Father Capodanno Boulevard as a shortcut. It helps them avoid traffic on Hylan Boulevard. This is especially true for people driving to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Local buses, like the S51/S81 and S52, use this street. Express buses, such as the SIM5, SIM6, SIM9, also travel on it to and from Manhattan.

In October 2012, the entire boulevard was badly damaged. This happened during Hurricane Sandy. The area experienced a lot of flooding.

Where Does the Boulevard Connect?

Father Capodanno Boulevard connects to several other important streets. These are called major intersections. They include:

• Lily Pond Avenue (this is the northern end of the boulevard)
• Sand Lane
• Seaview Avenue
• Slater Boulevard
• Hunter Avenue
• Midland Avenue
• Lincoln Avenue
• Greeley Avenue