Summary
The park is named after Robert Moses, a prominent urban planner who played a key role in developing New York City's transportation infrastructure.
There are several reasons to visit Robert Moses State Park, including its expansive beaches, scenic trails, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can swim, sunbathe, and participate in water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding on the park's beaches. The park also offers a range of hiking and biking trails that wind through the dunes and marshes, providing stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot a variety of bird species, including ospreys and plovers, as well as deer and foxes.
One of the most popular points of interest at Robert Moses State Park is Fire Island Lighthouse, which dates back to 1858 and offers panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding area. The park also features several historic structures, including the West Bathhouse, which was built in the 1930s and now serves as a visitor center and museum.
Interesting facts about Robert Moses State Park include its role as a filming location for the 2013 movie The Great Gatsby and the fact that it was once the site of an amusement park called Dreamland. The park is also home to the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, which is one of the last remaining wilderness areas on the East Coast.
The best time of year to visit Robert Moses State Park is during the summer months, when the beaches are open for swimming and water sports. However, the park is open year-round and visitors can enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing during the off-season. It is important to note that the park can get crowded during peak season, so visitors may want to arrive early to secure a good spot on the beach.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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