Shore Parkway Greenway Trail

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Waterfront bicycle trail, offering views of the Narrows and the Verrazano Bridge

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NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation
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Cycling with Habitat’s Hal along the Belt Parkway bike path at sunset en route to Surf Avenue in Coney Island for a Nathan’s hot dog reward.

The Shore Road "Bicycle Path" is much more than that, but that is what we call it. This pathway runs from the 69th Street Pier in Bayridge, Brooklyn all directly along the waterfront to Bay Parkway (traditionally called Caesar’s Bay, but Toys R Us, K-Mart, and Modell’s are the big stores there now). People of all ages and from all over come to run, ride bikes, fish, perform tai chi, walk themselves and their dogs, walk/run with baby strollers, read a book with the sun shining down on you or just look at the beautiful view by the Verrazano Bridge. It’s hard to believe you are in Brooklyn.

Next to the roaring Belt Parkway is a bike path running alongside Gravesend Bay. New York City installed a pedestrian promenade later called the Shore Parkway Greenway Trail along Gravesend Bay when constructing the Belt Parkway. The trail overlooks Staten Island to the west and Lower Manhattan to the north.

Separated paths for bikers and pedestrians ensure safety in this respite. Along the way, you can spot views of Coney Island, the historic Fort Hamilton Army Base, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, as well as Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth and Battery Weed. Benches offer wonderful opportunities for enjoying these views. Dolphins and seals can sometimes be spotted in the waves below. The bay also offers a source of recreational fishing. Sometimes, you can spot dolphins and seals in the waves below.

Shore Parkway Greenway Trail is fully-paved and wheelchair accessible. The trail offers separate section for cyclists and pedestrians as well as several restrooms, benches, and parking areas. The Shore Parkway Greenway Trail is heavily used by families, children, professional athletes, and all those seeking respite from the bustling urban realm of New York City.

I would be saddened if the separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians were eliminated. The separated paths allow bikers to enjoy their ride and the bay beside them without worrying about hitting pedestrians or being hit my cars. It is one of the safest places for bikers in New York City, complete with gorgeous views - helmets are still necessary though, of course!

Sunsets along Shore Parkway Greenway Trail are glorious. As a child, I kept a nature notebook and recorded my observations of the nature I encountered. One of my favorite things to write about were these sunsets. The waves of Gravesend Bay reflected the magnificent symphony of colors painting the sky above. As Mehmet Murat Ildan described, “Sunset is so marvelous that even the sun itself watches it every day in the reflections of the infinite oceans!” I felt limitless and full of wonder when observing these concerts in the sky.

The sunsets I occasionally observe in quarantine are lovely but are just not the same. I miss that sense of limitless freedom as I shutter myself away from death. I look forward to experiencing those sunsets in Gravesend Bay again soon.

(added April 2020)

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