I was alone. A sultry day in July, the air was blazing, the temperature in the nineties. Jumping into the giant soaring waves was revitalizing, refreshing, exciting. I waited for the next, then the next and jumped into it as it pounded down around me. Suddenly, I found myself under the waves gasping for air and flailing my arms as the force of nature pulled me under. Would someone see a child in distress and come to my rescue? I never noticed a lifeguard on duty, who even thought about it? I tried to scramble out onto the safety of the beach, but instead, the undertow pulled me further into the ocean. 
One more time, and I thought I would drown. With all my might, I pushed myself up towards the beach, then finally, finally I stood up and with difficulty moved by feet through the pull of the water to the beach. Are you questioning how I could remember? Since that day, I have told the story lots. Never, I promised myself, will that happen to me again. And it hasn’t. I don’t go into the ocean when the waves are bigger than me. I was pretty tall for my age of eight, and was a good swimmer, but it didn’t make a difference. I was at the mercy of the ocean. We had a cottage just up the street, in Rockaway Beach. That’s in Queens, New York. The experience put a damper on being an ocean lover. The almost drowning is what I think of when I witness gigantic waves like the ones at Jones Beach. I spent many a summer at Jones Beach watching my kids jump in and out of the waves. Can’t stop kid
s from doing their own wave challenges, but I was ready in a moment’s notice to jump in if one of my kids needed me.
New York beaches are far from innocent, not only are there dangerous undertows, but now there is an increase in shark population. Be on the lookout.
The beaches are rich in culture, have soft sparkly sand and clean water to swim. Jones Beach is actually a state park, founded by Robert Moses. It has bathhouses, an outdoor a
rena and a long boardwalk. When Moses’ group first surveyed Jones Island, it was swampy and only two feet above sea level; the island frequently became completely submerged during storms. To create the park, huge dredgers worked day till midnight to bring sand from the bay bottom, eventually bringing the island to twelve feet above sea level. Another problem that followed was the wind—the fine silver beach sand would blow horribly, making the workers miserable and making the use of the beach as a recreational facility unlikely. Moses sent landscape architects to other stable Long Island beaches, who reported that a beach grass (Ammophilia arenaria), whose roots grew sideways in search of water, held dunes in place, forming a barrier to the wind. In the summer of 1928, thousands of men worked on the beach planting the grass by hand.
In 1930, Robert Moses hired Rosebud Yellow Robe as Director of the Indian Village at Jones Beach State Park. Rosebud became a public celebrity to thousands of children who visited the village every summer from 1930 to 1950, It was created as a Plains Indian village with three large tipis. The large Council Tipi contained museum cases with artifacts borrowed from the American Museum of History. The other tipis served as clubhouses for the children. Rosebud told stories and folklore of the Lakota and local Eastern Woodlands tribes.
Rosebud worked as Director of the Indian Village
Rosebud
for years, and taught tens of thousands of school children and several generations of New Yorkers about Native American history and culture. Rosebud recalled, “When I first lectured to public school classes in New York, many of the smaller children hid under their desks, for they knew from the movies what a blood-thirsty scalping Indian might do to them.”
Jones Beach is accessible by car
, boat bicycle, and in the summer season by bus or even the Long Island Rail Road to Freeport and then a bus. There are fire works at Zach’s Bay on July 4th. There is a $10 cost for parking. A $65 New York State Empire Passport can be used to park for free.
New York beaches are all over the state. Do you like the beach? Where would you go?
I love the beach, although not swimming in the ocean so much any more after my own near drowning incident a few years back. I remeber getting flattened and tossed just as you described. Even as an adult who is a strong swimmer, Its a terrifying experience and a serious reminder of our impotence against the forces of nature.
I haven’t been to many NY beaches since we have some nice ones right along the CT and RI coast. I’ll have to check out Jones Beach…in the off season when there’s less traffic:-)
Paula, thank you. It is good to see here again. You do understand how frightening an experience it was, and imagine, for a little girl. I can still see myself under that strong water, gasping. Even then, my angel was watching me. Jones Beach is lovely. Good idea to visit when it isn’t summer. I wonder if it would be open then? It is a state park, so it probably will be accessible through September.
I wish I could see this beach. It sounds wonderful–great blog as always.
Charl, thank you, good to see you. Maybe when you come here, we can go together to visit the beach. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Thanks so much for your enjoyable post. My mother was born and raised in Queens, and spoke often of Jones Beach. She’s been gone almost fifteen years, so it was bittersweet to hear about the place again – you are right, although it’s right there, I’ve not heard or read about it much. Maybe that’s why it remains such a special place.
And you are also right, New York State “beaches” are all over the state – including lake beaches. Our own family favorite is Lake George, about four hours north of the Manhattan. The gorgeous, ice-cold, very deep lake spans from Lake Champlain south over 32 miles to the quaint village of Lake George. It’s a gorgeous part of the state that hasn’t changed much since I was a kid – ahem, fifty odd years ago?
The area served as inspiration for my Lake George Series. A Taming Season, the first book, is with Lachesis Publishing right now. So many happy memories just had to find their way into my work.
Besides, it gives me an excuse to travel there often in the name of research 😉
Frances, thanks for stopping by. Jones Beach was popular back in the 60’s. I enjoyed writing about it. I had forgotten that Robert Moses did a great deal giving New York these culturally rich beaches and parks. The mega waves were a big draw, and now, even more so, for the ever popular surfers.
Lake George is a place to love. I’ve been there several times. It was special to spend the day on the lake with my sons who enjoyed boating there. We visited the beautiful hotel. Is it still there? I bought a caricature, folky painting of the hotel. It resides in my daughter’s house in New Jersey. I had several friends who had summer cottages on the lake, lucky ladies. I will have to check out your Lake George series, and congratulations for your “A Taming Season” being with a publisher. I hope you have as many sales as those Jones Beach waves are high.
Gail, what a wonderful piece about a great beach…it was where my now husband and I had our first date 29 years ago last week! Living in Seattle, it’s probably the Long Island beaches that we miss the most about New York, they are a piece of heaven in the City, despite the traffic, crowds, etc. Thanks so much for writing this!!
Stephanie, thank you for stopping by. Jones Beach was/is a piece of heaven in the City. I was fortunate to live so close. We even attended some shows at the arena. The waves, though, always intimidated me, but they were a little bit of Hawaii. With surf boarding so popular, the mega waves are searched out. Jones Beach, Hawaii and a place in Portugal all have surfer’s dream waves.
I don’t remember you telling me you had your first date with Rich at Jones Beach. Thanks for sharing that. I’ll have to remember that town in Portugal that is a surfer’s paradise. Surfing competitions take place there. We were there a couple of years ago. Thanks again for your response.