Gilgo State Park facts for kids

Gilgo State Park is a huge, wild park. It covers about 1,223 acres. That's like 925 football fields! This special park is in Suffolk County, New York. It sits on Jones Beach Island. This island is a long, thin strip of land. It protects the mainland from the big ocean waves. Unlike many parks, Gilgo State Park is kept mostly natural. It does not have lots of buildings or paved paths.

A Look Back at Gilgo Park's History

Long ago, this land was home to brave people. They worked at a place called "Station Gilgo." This was a life-saving station. It helped ships and sailors in danger near the coast. The first building was built around 1853. Volunteers would patrol the beach. They looked for ships in trouble. Their job was to rescue people and save property from shipwrecks.

From Life-Saving to Park Land

This service later became part of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1925. As technology improved, the station was no longer needed. It was eventually left empty. Today, you can still see the remains of this old station. Locals call it the "Old Coast Guard Station." It's a cool reminder of the past.

Later, a famous park planner named Robert Moses helped get this land. He wanted it to be part of the Long Island Parks. The land was bought from the Town of Babylon between 1928 and 1930. The agreement was special. It said the land would stay wild forever. It would be open to everyone for fun activities. No single group would have special rights to use it. The park would almost always be open. It would only close for safety reasons.

Exploring Gilgo State Park Today

Gilgo State Park is a wild and natural place. It has amazing waterfront access. To the south, you can find the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, there is the Great South Bay. For many years, people from the mainland have visited. They cross the Great South Bay by boat. Then they walk south to the ocean beach. Here, they can have picnics. They can also swim and surf at the famous "Hemlocks Beach."

What to Know Before You Visit

Because the park is undeveloped, there are no bathrooms. There are also no garbage cans. Visitors must take everything they bring with them back out. This helps keep the park clean and natural. You can reach the park by Ocean Parkway. Some people also use a special four-wheel drive vehicle permit. This permit is for surfing. It is given out by New York State Parks and the Town of Babylon.

Wildlife and Nature at Gilgo

The park is a quiet place. It offers beautiful shore scenery. It's also a great spot for surfing. Gilgo State Park is also a home for wildlife. It helps protect special animals and plants. These include the piping plover, a small shorebird. It also protects the sea beach amaranth, a rare plant. To keep the wildlife safe, pets are not allowed in the park.