South Beach-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk
Encyclopedia
The South Beach-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk, alternately referred to as the F.D.R. Boardwalk or the South Beach Boardwalk is a boardwalk
on the East Shore
of Staten Island
, one of the five boroughs of New York City
.
public Park that stretches from the Fort Wadsworth
and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
to Miller Field. Both Fort Wadsworth and Miller Field are federal parks.
and South Beach
had changed little until the 1880s. At the end of the 19th century, investors recognized the potential of the teeming beaches filled with New Yorkers trying to escape the city’s summer heat. With the addition of hotels, bathing pavilions, theaters, beer gardens, carousels and Ferris wheels, the beachfront property transformed almost overnight.
On June 30, 1906 the Happyland Amusement Park
opened its boardwalk doors. Taking full advantage of the summer closings of most Broadway theaters, Happyland’s amusements, stage productions, and Vaudeville
shows attracted thirty-thousand visitors on opening day. The amusement park continued to draw summer crowds for many years with attractions like the Japanese Tea Gardens, the Carnival of Venice, and the shooting gallery. Though the boardwalk resort thrived throughout the 1910s and 20s, fires, water pollution, and The Great Depression (1929–1939) took their toll on the beachfront resort area and the crowds eventually disappeared.
(WPA). Providing jobs for Depression era workers, the WPA also revived the community of Midland Beach. By removing the deteriorating music halls, carousels, and shooting galleries, the project made way for the present two and a half-mile long boardwalk. In 1939 it was dedicated to the former New York governor and president and has since continued to undergo periodic renovations and neighborhood improvements.
In addition to offering numerous recreational activities, South Beach also delights marine animal lovers with the Fountain of the Dolphins sculpture at the boardwalk area. Sculpted by Steven Dickey and donated by the Staten Island Borough President’s Office in 1998, the fountain contains six bronze dolphin figures fastened to footings by posts and surrounded by wave-shaped rails. These posts contain fiber-optic cables and water jets that, when illuminated, emit green, blue and white lights.
In 1995 Parks installed a new roller hockey rink funded by a $15,000 City Parks Foundation grant and in 1996, Saturn of Staten Island funded nearby Kid’s Kingdom Playground. Though South Beach has changed over the years, it remains an active center of the community and a beautiful scenic resort.
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
on the East Shore
East Shore, Staten Island
The term East Shore is frequently applied to a series of neighborhoods along the Lower New York Bay and the Raritan Bay and within New York City's borough of Staten Island....
of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, one of the five boroughs of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Overview
The boardwalk was built in 1935, replacing an existing commercial boardwalk and tourist area that had been ravaged by fires, economic loss and the Great Depression. The boardwalk is part of a New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
public Park that stretches from the Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth is a former United States military installation on Staten Island in New York City, situated on The Narrows which divide New York Bay into Upper and Lower halves, a natural point for defense of the Upper Bay and Manhattan beyond. Prior to closing in 1994 it claimed to be the longest...
and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay....
to Miller Field. Both Fort Wadsworth and Miller Field are federal parks.
History
Originally part of a small Dutch community in the mid-17th century, the coastal neighborhoods of Midland BeachMidland Beach, Staten Island
Midland Beach is a Staten Island neighborhood. It lies along the east-central coast of the island, in the area known locally as the "Mid-Island, Staten Island," or, according to some, the "East Shore." To its immediate west is Grant City, south lies New Dorp Beach with Graham Beach and South Beach...
and South Beach
South Beach, Staten Island
South Beach is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. It is situated immediately to the south of the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge...
had changed little until the 1880s. At the end of the 19th century, investors recognized the potential of the teeming beaches filled with New Yorkers trying to escape the city’s summer heat. With the addition of hotels, bathing pavilions, theaters, beer gardens, carousels and Ferris wheels, the beachfront property transformed almost overnight.
On June 30, 1906 the Happyland Amusement Park
Happyland Amusement Park
The Happyland Amusement Park was an amusement park in the South Beach neighborhood of Staten Island, New York from 1906 till about 1935. Its location is now occupied by the South Beach-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk, a public park....
opened its boardwalk doors. Taking full advantage of the summer closings of most Broadway theaters, Happyland’s amusements, stage productions, and Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
shows attracted thirty-thousand visitors on opening day. The amusement park continued to draw summer crowds for many years with attractions like the Japanese Tea Gardens, the Carnival of Venice, and the shooting gallery. Though the boardwalk resort thrived throughout the 1910s and 20s, fires, water pollution, and The Great Depression (1929–1939) took their toll on the beachfront resort area and the crowds eventually disappeared.
Public Park Conception
In 1935 the beachfront property was vested to the City and underwent renovations as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (1882–1945) Works Progress AdministrationWorks Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(WPA). Providing jobs for Depression era workers, the WPA also revived the community of Midland Beach. By removing the deteriorating music halls, carousels, and shooting galleries, the project made way for the present two and a half-mile long boardwalk. In 1939 it was dedicated to the former New York governor and president and has since continued to undergo periodic renovations and neighborhood improvements.
South Beach-F.D.R. Boardwalk Today
The site, at the northernmost segment of Staten Island’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach between Fort Wadsworth and Sea View, now supports baseball fields, handball and shuffleboard courts, and playgrounds colorfully adorned with dolphins and carnival-faces that recall South Beach’s long gone amusement parks. Visitors also enjoy boccie courts, checker tables, a skateboard park, a roller hockey rink and a long pier for year-round fishing.In addition to offering numerous recreational activities, South Beach also delights marine animal lovers with the Fountain of the Dolphins sculpture at the boardwalk area. Sculpted by Steven Dickey and donated by the Staten Island Borough President’s Office in 1998, the fountain contains six bronze dolphin figures fastened to footings by posts and surrounded by wave-shaped rails. These posts contain fiber-optic cables and water jets that, when illuminated, emit green, blue and white lights.
In 1995 Parks installed a new roller hockey rink funded by a $15,000 City Parks Foundation grant and in 1996, Saturn of Staten Island funded nearby Kid’s Kingdom Playground. Though South Beach has changed over the years, it remains an active center of the community and a beautiful scenic resort.