I stumbled across this tiny little oasis trying to find a way to spend 5 hours and avoid the Petri dish that is a hospital waiting room while my boyfriend had surgery. It was the middle of a heatwave. The map seemed to show plenty of coastline, within (reasonable) walking distance. It was 7 in the morning and I had been meaning to intentionally break in my Birkenstock’s for nearly a week now. I set out.
I wandered through the very residential neighborhood of Marine Park and toward the wildness of Mill Basin, Brooklyn’s largest public park, before letting my finger-upon-Google-map curiosity float over to a spot that read “Plumb Beach Nature Reserve”. The sun was hot, my backpack was heavy, and I’d just bought a White Claw that I wanted to pop open while still cold and sitting upon sand.
After a fairly easy and not too scenic walk, I ended up in a small parking lot with a retro changing facilities (closed per pandemic) and a bold inscription that read “PLUMBEACH” all the way around it.
This, I could tell, this must be the place I would spend the next 3 hours.
It would be, me, along with about 20 others, all wading out into the endless expanse of 3-foot deep brackish water. No lifeguards, no currents, very minimal waves, and the only momentary embarrassment of having to squat in the water to pee. An ideal way to spend the day. Follow me there…
Where is Plumb Beach?
Plumb Beach is a Gateway National Recreation Area located south of Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. It is a sandy beach that opens up to the Jamaica Bay. It’s breezy beaches and calm waters make it a favorite for kayakers, paddle boarders, kiteboarders, and windsurfers.
Can you Swim at Plumb Beach?
Yes! The water is about 2-feet deep at low tide, 3.5 feet at high tide, and you can walk all the at least 100 yards out at this depth. The waves are minimal and there is no current. It’s a great safe beach to bring children.
What should I bring to Plumb Beach?
Bring everything you want to have on the beach with you. There is no boardwalk and no food options within walking distance. Be sure to bring plenty of water!
What is Prohibited at Plumb Beach?
According to the National Park website, the following things are prohibited:
- Swimming, diving, or bathing
- Rafts or other inflatables
- Consumption of alcohol
- Littering
- Smoking
- Any discharge into water
- Pets off leash or in the water
- Open flame
- Storing personal property
- Motor vehicles without specific authorization
Of this list, I either participated in or witnessed 7 of these activities taking place. Yes, you can swim. Yes, you can bring rafts. Yes, you can responsibly drink alcohol. Yes. you should prioritize above EVERYTHING else protecting the vulnerable ecosystem of the Jamaica Bay. And no, there is no one patrolling the beach, looking to take away your spiked seltzer. Just don’t be an asshole, ok?
How do I get to Plumb Beach?
By car, you can get to Plumb Beach via Belt Parkway/Shore Parkway around the southwest edge of Brooklyn, or take Woodhaven Boulevard through Queens and connect to the Belt Parkway/Shore Parkway. If you want to take public transit to Plumb Beach, take either the 4-5, the 2, or the B and connect to the B84 Bus, which stops at the Plumb Beach parking lot. Biking to Plumb Beach will take you via bike lanes all the way down Bedford Avenue via Prospect Heights, down Leonard through Bed Stuy, or through Bushwick and Brownsville. From North Brooklyn, the bike ride is about 1.5 hours.
Is Plumb Beach a good place for Photographers?
Yes, because of the long distance of shallow, calm waters, taking photos in the early morning at Plumb Beach creates a smooth, silvery surface on the water, ideal for nude photo shoots and artistic effects you can’t achieve on other coastlines in New York.
Why should I go to Plumb Beach?
Because this city has nearly 520 miles of coastline, yet we all seem to compete for the most ‘coveted’ areas at Rockaway, Fort Tilden, and Coney Island. And, with the recent shark sitings at Jones Beach have left me yearning to float out into the safety of a shark-free bay. Plumb Beach is clean and comfortable and just hidden enough to keep it from getting too crowded, even on the weekends.
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