Neighborhoods

Our Communities

The Rockaways and Broad Channel feature some of the finest ocean and bay beaches in the world, along with numerous parks and wetlands. Stretching roughly 11 miles in length and averaging less than three-quarters of a mile in width, the peninsula is home to at least 14 distinct communities — each with its own name, character, and interests — bound together by a common geography and history.

The Rockaways are also home to New York City's first legal surfing beaches, located at Beach 67–69 Streets and Beach 87–88 Streets. Broad Channel sits within Jamaica Bay, offering a unique island community connected by bridges and surrounded by wetlands.

The Rockaway peninsula stretches along the southern edge of Queens, forming a narrow barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean from Jamaica Bay. This unique geography gives each of its communities a distinct character shaped by water on both sides. Neighborhoods like Breezy Point at the western tip offer a secluded coastal feel, while Far Rockaway at the eastern end pulses with greater density and diversity. Broad Channel sits mid-bay, a community built literally on the water, connected by bridges and boardwalks. Despite their differences in atmosphere and architecture, these neighborhoods share a common resilience shaped by ocean storms, seasonal tourism, and the singular experience of living at the edge of a vast city where the urban meets the maritime.

The communities served by Community Board 14 include historic summer resort areas that have evolved into year-round neighborhoods. Arverne, Edgemere, and Roxbury each grew from early twentieth-century beachfront developments into settled residential districts. Belle Harbor and Neponsit retain a quieter, residential atmosphere with their tree-lined blocks and oceanfront homes. Rockaway Beach and Rockaway Park offer more commercial activity, with shops, restaurants, and easy access to the shoreline. Bayswater sits along the bay side, offering waterfront views and a more intimate setting. Together these neighborhoods form a patchwork of local identities, each with its own civic associations, block associations, and community groups that work alongside the board to address local concerns.

The Rockaways are defined not only by their beaches but by their abundant natural spaces. The peninsula is dotted with parks, wetlands, and wildlife refuges that provide crucial habitat along the Atlantic Flyway. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge offers trails and birding opportunities that attract nature enthusiasts from across the city. The board's work often involves balancing development pressures with the preservation of these sensitive environmental areas. Local residents take pride in the surfing beaches, the miles of boardwalk, and the quiet marshes that give the peninsula its distinctive sense of place. This connection to the natural environment shapes community priorities, from flood resilience to park maintenance, and remains a central part of what makes the Rockaways unique within New York City.

Natural Resources

The peninsula offers residents and visitors access to both ocean-facing and bay-side beaches, parks, and protected wetland areas. These natural assets support recreation, wildlife habitat, and coastal resilience. The board works with city agencies — including the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department of City Planning — on waterfront planning, zoning, and stewardship of these resources.