The Fourth of July means that summer is fully upon us. Here in south Queens, we are fortunate to be in the vicinity of both the conveniences of urbanity and a plethora of diverse recreational spots best enjoyed during this season.
Maybe we don’t hear it every day, but Queens is a beautiful place.
And the Gateway National Recreational Area is almost literally in our backyard. From the clean coastline and rousing surf to the renovated, modern boardwalks, Jacob Riis Park (named for a writer and photographer who eventually made Richmond Hill his home) is a genuine treasure. Frank Charles Park (named after a soldier from Howard Beach who was killed in WWI), set against Jamaica Bay, is a lovely place for a picnic near the water, for children to play, to have a handball game or go for a jog. Mussels cling in abundance to the seagrass that emerges at low tide, providing a backdrop for bird (or plane) watching. Kids love to check out the alien-like horseshoe crabs that inhabit the fringe of shallow marsh there and often come ashore to mate. Go fishing for sea bass at Breezy Point. At Hawtree Creek, look past the sinking boats and see the majestic mute swan couple that float down from their seasonal nest in the marshes by the JFK/Howard Beach train. Or their friend, a tall white heron that’s always nearby.
Our bay is protected, and that’s a good thing. We’ve got the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge just around the corner, sanctuary to myriad native and migrating species of butterflies, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The Refuge is set to embark on a huge restoration campaign – basically a giant weeding project – that will not only benefit the wildlife but also the aesthetics of the area. Animal and plantlife lovers as we are at the Forum, we were thrilled to learn of this, and even happier that the National Park Service is asking and allowing for volunteers who will do everything from community outreach to getting into the dirt and replanting native vegetation.
We’re calling on our readers to help out if you can – but only if you currently enjoy any of the aforementioned spectacular recreational offerings that are maintained by the Park Service. One need only take a stroll through the 20 acres of Charles Park to notice the imperfections that could be eliminated with a little more volunteer assistance or NPS personnel: the dead branches atop sycamores that could and should be cut before the weight of ice or a strong gust of wind causes them to crack off and hurt someone passing underneath; the ball fields that could use more tending; the trash (why people even still litter is beyond us) that could be picked up more regularly, and more waste receptacles (and recycling bins) set out. No, we’re not suggesting that patrons of the park cut down its trees’ dead branches or attempt (without expertise) to save injured wildlife, but we could all make a contribution, even by merely picking up the phone and alerting the NPS to send a ranger out.
And if they don’t come to fix a problem or make an assessment, we should be asking our representatives to fight to fund more Park Service employees. It’s important that we all do our part to protect and preserve our parks and natural refuges. Our homes will be worth more, our air will be cleaner, and our summers will be happier and richer far into the future.
