Rockaway Community Park Hiking Trails

In 1948 and 1955, Parks acquired the property that is now Rockaway Community Park through assignment of city land and the purchase of privately owned land. Previously known as Edgemere Park, it was changed to Rockaway Community Park in 1971 by local law. Projecting into Jamaica Bay at a northeasterly angle, the area is generally bounded by Conch Basin, Norton Basin, the bay itself, Sommerville Basin, and 54th Avenue. Another Parks property, Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary, is visible across Sommerville Basin.

Much of the park’s acreage to the north is currently inaccessible as it is returning to its natural state following years of use by the Sanitation Department. Located near several nature preserves, sanctuaries, and the Gateway National Recreation Area, Rockaway Community Park is being restored as part of the Parks mission to protect the wildlife and natural habitat of Jamaica Bay. Starting in the early 2010’s, NYC Parks Natural Resources Group (NRG) has removed debris and undesirable plant species. These species harm the environment by displacing native flora, which in turn, impacts wildlife and other species dependent on the native flora. They impact ecological stability and biodiversity by disrupting such processes as hydrology, nutrient cycling, natural succession, wildfire regime, and soil erosion. In order for a diversity of species to thrive, removal or control of the overabundant undesired plant species is needed. After removals of the undesired species, NRG has replanted the area with native species in a series of planting events and contractual work. Trees planted include a variety of pines (Pinus), oak (Quercus), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), birches (Betula), juniper (Juniperus virginiana), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), sumac (Rhus) and shrubs such as groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia), bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and chokeberries (Aronia).

Purple Trail: The Purple Trail brings park users into the heart of the restoration plantings of a decade ago and is a short half mile walk beginning from the corner of Almeda Ave and Beach 51 St and ending at the ballfields near Almeda Ave and Beach 54th St. When the trail turns into the natural area and the Conch Basin is behind you, enter a short figure eight loop that winds through the restored woodland with pine trees (Pinus), Junipers (Juniperus), Birch (Betula) and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), the shining stars thriving overhead. Enjoy a peaceful walk on sandy soils through this new woodland and then continue west away from Conch Basin and towards Sommerville Basin. After you pass the fence, you’ll find a boardwalk that leads to the soccer and baseball fields at Beach 54th St. Here you can exit or continue along the parks’ paved paths to Beach 58th where a short trail leads to a view of the Sommerville Basin.

Interactive Map

Points of Interest

Sommerville Basin View

Just a few steps from Almeda Ave and Beach 58th St is beautiful view of the Sommerville Basin, an inlet of Jamaica Bay located between Arverne and Edgemere in Queens. Enclosed by the Rockaway Peninsula and protected from the Atlantic Ocean, the region of Jamaica Bay currently hosts over 325 species of birds, 50 species of butterflies, and 100 species of finfish. A favorite stop for migratory waterfowl, the area is an integral part of the larger, regional ecosystem. One of New York City’s most extraordinary natural resources, Jamaica Bay remains largely undeveloped. Across Sommerville Basin, you also have a view of another NYC Parks property, Dubo’s Point, named for the environmentalist Dr. Rene Dubos and his wife Jean Dubos, who first coined the phrase “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

View Sommerville Basin View on the map

Pine Grove

Along the Purple Trail figure eight loop within the restored woodland, a small and beautiful pine grove is growing. Planted in 2013 as part of restoration efforts by NYC Parks’ Natural Resources Group, thousands of trees and shrub saplings were planted from 2013 to 2015.

View Pine Grove on the map

Hiking in NYC Parks

Visit our Hiking in NYC Parks page to find more nature trails in parks across New York City.