Rockaway Beach’s new coastline preserve safeguards regional flora, fauna, and wildlife.
Aside fromgorgeous botanic gardensandnearby hike lead , New York City now has a new getaway destination in the form of an oceanside nature preserve calledArverne East .
set up along Rockaway Beach in the Edgemere neighborhood of Queens , the preserve encompasses 35 acres of arresting , instinctive environment . While explore , nature lovers can discover up to five different nautical ecosystem : a grassland , woods , swale , dunes , and shrubland . Navigation throughout Arverne East is made easy from purloin wooden tract , which were designed to affect the surrounding flora , fauna , and wildlife as little as possible .
On the botany side , gorgeous swath of color will spread throughout the estate start in early autumn good manners of the promising , yellow seaside goldenrod , which thrives in Ngaio Marsh - like conditions . Monarch butterfly stroke are also attracted to the flora ’s bloom , so keep an oculus out for the delicate insect before they start flying in the south from August – October . Other regional plants that visitors can discover include the thin , forage - corresponding beach sedge and the slender , clump - form Gray ’s flatsedge .
The new nature preserve along Queens' Rockaway Beach, Arverne East|Photo by Daniel Avila, photo courtesy of NYC Parks
The birdwatching communitywill be delighted to spot a wide image of feathered friends from Black Skimmers and Least Terns to American Oystercatchers and Piping Plovers — all of whom utilize the swale , forest , and shrublands for protection and sustenance .
In terms of environmental and cultural wallop , this project is of great benefit . According to Queens Borough President Donovan Richards , Jr. , what was once “ a vacant , overgrown , and illegal dumping ground for decades is now a sensational hub of wildlife . ” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue say that her squad is “ committed to maintaining strong , ecologically vibrant public spaces and help local wildlife thrive , while take in our city more beautiful , resilient , and livable . ”
The nature preserves is part of Arverne East ’s bigger visual sense of an orbit revitalization on the Rockaway Peninsula . About 100 acres of this previously underutilized estate will soon also contain a fossil fuel - gratuitous welcome center , urban farm , native industrial plant glasshouse , and compost eye . Additional plans for the environmentally - conscious development include affordable housing , public common , and small business retail space .
The soon-to-open, fossil fuel-free welcome center at Arverne East|Photo by Daniel Avila, photo courtesy of NYC Parks
TheArverne East nature preserveis now open to the public in Edgemere , Queens .
