Summer 2012 Preview: North Fork Beaches
Welcome to Long Island’s beautiful North Fork! Comprising 11 small towns and villages, the North Fork is a bounty of farmland, quaint downtowns, wineries and unspoiled natural beauty. Surrounded by the Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound, the North Fork also offers miles of glorious beaches. But to enjoy many of them, your car must display a valid parking permit. When in doubt, contact the town or village, and heed to the posted signs. Here’s a quick list of what you need to know:
Riverhead Town
Riverhead Town has four beaches located on the calmer waters of either the Peconic Bay or the Long Island Sound. Resident permits are $5 for the season, and nonresidents may purchase a day pass for $10 or a season pass for $75. Permits are required from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and they are available at the Riverhead Town Recreation Department office or at all town beaches between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Iron Pier Beach: (Lifeguards, comfort station, concessions)
Reeve’s Beach: (Comfort station)
South Jamesport Beach: (Lifeguards, comfort station, concessions)
Wading River Beach: (Comfort station)
For more information, contact the Town of Riverhead at 631-727-3200 or www.townofriverheadny.gov.
Southold Town
Comprising the majority of the North Fork, Southold Town offers much in the way of beach fun on the Long Island Sound and on the Gardiners and Peconic bays between the two forks. Eight beaches fall under the jurisdiction of Southold Town, with Town Beach arguably being the most popular. Resident beach permits cost $6.51 per season. A nonresident seasonal permit is $108.50. Daily parking is available at three of the town’s beaches, and they are sold on-site for a fee of $8.68 per day. Parking permits are available at the Southold Town Clerk’s Office and by mail.
There are also a number of Park District Beaches in Southold Town. These beaches and parks do not come under Southold Town’s jurisdiction. Permits may be obtained at the district beach when it is open for the season.
Located at the tip of the island, Orient Beach State Park boasts 45,000 feet of access to Gardiners Bay. Among the amenities and activities are swimming, hiking, biking, a playground and playing fields. The vehicle entrance fee is $8 through June 25 and $10 through September 5. For more information, visit www.nysparks.com.
Goldsmith Inlet, Peconic
Goose Creek: (Lifeguards, comfort station)
Kenny’s Beach: (Lifeguards, comfort station)
Laurel Lake Park: (Parking permit not required)
McCabe’s Beach: (Lifeguards, comfort station)
New Suffolk Beach: (Lifeguards, daily parking)
Norman E. Klipp Park/Gull Pond Beach: (Lifeguards, daily parking)
Town Beach: (Lifeguards, comfort station, daily parking)
Cutchogue-New Suffolk Park District
Nassau Point Beach: (Lifeguards, comfort station)
Pequash Avenue Beach (Fleet Neck Beach): (Lifeguards, comfort station)
Call 631-734-5224 for more information.
Orient-East Marion Park District
Truman’s Beach
Call 631-323-2481 for more information.
Mattituck Park District
Aldrich Lane Park
Breakwater Park: (Comfort station)
Bailie’s Beach Park
Bay Avenue Park
Mattituck Creek Boat Launching Park
Mattituck Park District Beach (Yacht Club)
Marratooka Lake
Veterans Memorial Park: (Lifeguards)
Wolf Pit Lake
Call 631-298-9103 for more information.
Southold Park District
Emerson Park
Founders Landing: (Lifeguards, July 1 through Labor Day, comfort station)
Horton’s Pt. Lighthouse Park
Triangle Park
Call 631-765-6019 for more information
For more information, contact the Town of Southold at 631-765-1800 or http://southoldtown.northfork.net.