Now residents of southern Brooklyn don’t have to trek up to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Red Hook and Williamsburg for recreational water sports. This summer, water concessions are making a splash at parks and beaches all around the Jamaica Bay wetlands.
Arriving in June, the rental booths for kayaks, canoes, bikes, and paddle-boards are available all year at locations throughout Brooklyn’s Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Plumb Beach, and Canarsie Pier, as well as the Rockaways and Queens’ Jacob Riis Beach and Riis Landing.
Riders and rowers can rent rides such as a Single Surrey (2 adults and 2 small children for $25/hour) or a Double Surrey (6 adults and 3 small children for $35/hour); and Cruiser Bikes, City Bikes, Tandem Bikes, Kids Bikes, Tag-a-longs, Boogie Boards, Beach Chairs, Beach Umbrellas, Sand Toys and more by the hour, half-day (4 hours), and Full Day (8 hours).
The booths are being managed by Wheel Fun Rentals, which has a one-year license with the city Department of Parks and Recreation and National Parks Service, with an option for three one-year renewals.
City and national parks officials touted the concessions as another way to bring land and water, people and water vehicles together for fun and educational activities.
“We are always looking for ways to connect our park to the community and to find new reasons for our neighbors to come to Jamaica Bay and enjoy a wonderful outdoor experience in their backyard.” said Linda Canzanelli, superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area.
“Millions of people visit the parks and beaches at Jamaica Bay and the Rockaways each summer and this concession provides a fun and new recreational amenity,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White. “We are pleased to welcome Wheel Fun Rentals as they offer opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to bike and paddle, while enjoying the natural beauty of the Jamaica Bay region.”
Jamaica Bay is a wetland estuary surrounded by the Rockaway Peninsula to the South, Brooklyn to the West, and Queens to the East. The bay consists of numerous islands, a labyrinth of waterways, meadowlands, and two freshwater ponds. The wetlands provide a unique environment for both wildlife preservation and urban recreation.
Products offered through this new concession will vary by location. For a full list of products, prices, and hours of operation visit www.WheelFunRentals.com.