Staten Island · Richmond County
FDR Boardwalk and Beach
Beach / Boardwalk
- Location
- Father Capodanno Boulevard from Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field, Midland Beach / South Beach
- Size
- 35.00 acres
- Hours
- Beach: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (lifeguards); Boardwalk open 24 hours
- Type
- Beach / Boardwalk
The FDR Boardwalk and Beach stretches 2.5 miles along the eastern shore of Staten Island from Fort Wadsworth south to Miller Field, encompassing the neighborhoods of South Beach, Midland Beach, and New Dorp Beach. The boardwalk is named for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and provides Staten Island's most extensive public beach and waterfront promenade.
The boardwalk was substantially rebuilt and elevated following the devastating damage from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, which destroyed much of the original structure and flooded the surrounding neighborhoods. The reconstruction incorporated resilient design features including elevated sections and stormwater management infrastructure.
The beach provides free ocean access along Lower New York Bay, with views across the water to Coney Island, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the distant Manhattan skyline. The wide sandy beach is popular for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and casual walking throughout the warmer months.
The boardwalk connects multiple beach communities along Staten Island's eastern shore, creating a continuous waterfront promenade that serves as the social spine of these neighborhoods. Residents walk, jog, cycle, and socialize along the boardwalk year-round.
The FDR Boardwalk represents Staten Island's resilient relationship with the ocean: rebuilt after catastrophic storm damage, the boardwalk and beach continue to serve the communities that live along the shore, providing the waterfront recreation that defines life on the island's eastern coast.