FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 16, 2020 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
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Courtesy of Silver Gull Beach Club
Silver Gull and Breezy Point beach
clubs reopen, off ering summer fun
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Generations of New Yorkers have
whiled away the long hot summer for
more than half a century at the Silver Gull
Beach Club in Rockaway, and for more
than 80 years at the Breezy Point Surf
Club two miles to the west.
For many, it’s a travel back in time to the
’50s and ’60s when clubs like these lined
the shorelines of Queens and Brooklyn,
according to Jamie Blatman, the general
manager of both clubs for the past seven
years.
“Th is summer has been unlike the other
years due to the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic, but I’m excited that we were
able to open both clubs during the July 4
weekend,” Blatman said. “Th ere are some
restrictions due to social distancing, but
there is beach access at both clubs and the
pools and the cabanas are open.”
Th e cabanas are available for storage
and changing and they provide an excellent
background to enjoy meals. Amid the
coronavirus pandemic, seasonal members
were given the option to roll over
their summer rental deposits toward next
season.
But Blatman said there have been “very
few cancellations” to this point.
“Our summer season traditionally gets
going aft er the July 4th weekend so we
still have the heart of the summer ahead
of us and our business is really cracking,”
Blatman said. “Normally we close
the season down on Sept. 13, but we may
stay open on weekends a little bit longer
this year.”
Both clubs are concessions of the
National Park Service, which operates
Gateway National Park. Currently, both
clubs are approved for beach access and
swimming, the use of the bathrooms,
and food and beverage service for takeout
and delivery, as well as outdoor dining.
Blatman expects that popular sports
such as tennis, basketball and bocce will
be approved soon. Th e clubs open for
beach access at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.,
meaning visitors must depart the beach
by 6:30 p.m.
Th ere is a special daily visitor pass available
at $40 per adult and $30 per child,
and reservations must be made by calling
the offi ce at both clubs. In addition to regular
cleaning of the beach, bathrooms and
cafeterias, the clubs have purchased CDCapproved
sanitizers, which will be used in
those areas.
Staff will be wearing masks while on
the property and the clubs “respectfully
request” all guests visiting the clubs
use their masks in all interior spaces and
when accessing the beach. Six-foot markers
have been set up in the cafe areas to
help gauge social distancing guidelines.
Additionally, the clubs will be sanitizing
the bathrooms every 45 minutes.
Both clubs are easily accessible by car
from Queens and Brooklyn and NYC
Ferry provides a route from Brooklyn and
Manhattan.
“It’s the perfect time to try a staycation
this year and come down here and
enjoy the summer sun,” Blatman said.
“Most people in Queens and Brooklyn
do not know these hidden gems are in
the city, but once they know, they want
to sign up.”
Th e Silver Gull Beach Club is located
at 1 Beach 193rd St. in Breezy Point and
its offi ce can be reached at 718-634-1500.
Th e Breezy Point Surf Club is at 1 Beach
227th St. and its offi ce can be reached at
718-634-2500.
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