Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

With over 100,000 square feet of greenspace on our rooftops in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Broadway Stages clearly values the natural environment of New York City. And nowhere honors this environment better than the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Located between the boroughs of Brooklyn to the west and Queens to the east, the Refuge includes over 12,600 acres of water, saltmarshes, freshwater and brackish water ponds, upland fields and woods, and open bay and islands.

In 1938, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Robert Moses began working on an idea that would eventually become the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. After twelve years of intense efforts, he finally broke ground on the Refuge in 1950. In all, he marshaled the efforts of about 84,000 for the park's development.

In 1972, the site became part of the National Park Service when the Gateway National Recreation Area was established. As such, it is part of more than 26,000 acres of unique natural, cultural, and recreational resources in both New York and New Jersey.

One of Moses's ideas was to create nonindigenous freshwater ponds on each side of the refuge. Along with two man-made brackish ponds (the 117-acre East Pond and 45-acre West Pond), these bodies of water attract extensive varieties of wildlife to the bay's saltwater marshland.

Today, it is one of the most significant bird habitats in the northeastern United States. Birders prize it as a great place to observe seasonal bird migration and approximately 70 resident species, making it one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the northeastern United States.

The NYC Bird Alliance notes that 332 bird species, nearly half the species in the Northeast, have been sighted at the refuge over the last 25 years, including several New York State records. And it is more than just a great place to go birding in the summer months. People have spotted wintering waterfowl such as Snow Goose (at least 700 at one time), Brant, and various species of ducks in the colder months. Raptors, like Cooper's Hawks and Peregrine Falcons, have also been seen.

Before you visit, check out the online calendar for ranger-led programs. Or stop by the visitor's center, where rangers can point you in the right direction and give you tips on the birds. You can also get a free checklist, Birds of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, borrow binoculars, and consult the log of recent sightings.

The center has interesting exhibits highlighting Jamaica Bay's remarkable plant and animal life and ecological history. The visitor center is open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And the Refuge trails and parking lot are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Warren Buffet said, "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." People in the New York City region have a great natural resource in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge because of Robert Moses. Broadway Stages is grateful for his forethought and great efforts. We know you will be, too, after just one visit.