Long Island Sound public beaches in Westchester? (New Rochelle, Rye: appointed, houses)

[Kreutz]

I'm moving to Westchester from the Island in a bit..is there an equivalent to Sunken Meadow State Park in Westchester to swim in the sounds thats a public beach? Or would I have to drive to CT or back to LI?

[7 Wishes]

The following sound beaches I know about:

1) Orchard Beach, the Bronx - Anyone can go to it for a fee, very very crowded

2) Glen Island, New Rochelle - Any county resident with a park pass (if you live in Westchester, you can get one for $50) can go to it for a fee.

3) Playland, Rye - Beach is open to all, just a parking fee.

4) Oakland Beach, Rye - For Rye residents, but non-residents can go for a fee (I believe either $10 or $15/car plus a "per person" fee before 6pm. On Thursday nights after 6, it is just $2/car and for non residents (I think the other nights it's $5 for non residents after 6 until dark.....in either case, no "per person" fee after 6, as they want people to go to Seaside Johnny's bar in the evening). I used to be part of an informal beach volleyball game on Oakland Beach, so I know it well. I think it's the nicest Sound beach in Westchester County.

[Dockside]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

4) Oakland Beach, Rye - For Rye residents, but non-residents can go for a fee (I believe either $10 or $15/car plus a "per person" fee before 6pm. On Thursday nights after 6, it is just $2/car and for non residents (I think the other nights it's $5 for non residents after 6 until dark.....in either case, no "per person" fee after 6, as they want people to go to Seaside Johnny's bar in the evening). I used to be part of an informal beach volleyball game on Oakland Beach, so I know it well. I think it's the nicest Sound beach in Westchester County.

Pay the fee, it's worth every penny. You have showers, bathrooms and a snackbar. The closer you get to NYC the dirtier the beaches get.

[wordlife]

There's also the beach/park at Harbor Island in Mamaroneck. Its great out there during the summer, I'm not sure if there's a fee on certain days or not regardless its a beautiful park/beach/marina. Although the beach part is pretty small.

7, don't the new playland fees also apply for getting access to the beach or just the rides???

Another place you should check out is Croton Point Park (Croton Point Park (http://www.westchestergov.com/parks/parkslocations02/CrotonPointPark.htm - broken link)). Its not on the sound though, its on the other side of the county over on the hudson. You can have alot of fun out there in summertime, I know I will

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by wordlife

There's also the beach/park at Harbor Island in Mamaroneck. Its great out there during the summer, I'm not sure if there's a fee on certain days or not regardless its a beautiful park/beach/marina. Although the beach part is pretty small.

7, don't the new playland fees also apply for getting access to the beach or just the rides???

Another place you should check out is Croton Point Park (Croton Point Park (http://www.westchestergov.com/parks/parkslocations02/CrotonPointPark.htm - broken link)). Its not on the sound though, its on the other side of the county over on the hudson. You can have alot of fun out there in summertime, I know I will

Don't know much about the new Playland fees, thought they just applied to rides, but I don't really know.

Didn't think of Harbor Island because it's so small. I think it's a parking fee and you need a Park Pass (a la Glen Island), so it's an option.

I didn't think of Croton Point Park because it's not on the Sound (as the poster asked) but also because it was closed for awhile.....

[Dockside]

Harbor Island is pretty, but it closes regularly for poor water conditions. It's an enclosed harbor, lots of moored and docked boats, right next to a sewage treatment plant. They have to put some kind of large, floating barricade in the water to protect the beach from all manner of flotsam and jetsam.

It's a beautiful harbor to walk around, but I wouldn't let my kids wade in or eat a fish pulled out of that water.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by Kreutz

.....is there an equivalent to Sunken Meadow State Park in Westchester to swim in the sounds thats a public beach? Or would I have to drive to CT or back to LI?

I live/work in Westchester and pass them all by in favor of LI beaches, both sound side and ocean. In fact, I'm at one or another of the LI beaches at least 1x a week and know them pretty well. Bottom line: there's nothing in Westchester remotely like Sunken Meadow. The Westchester town beaches, while nice enough, are far smaller, more crowded and generally encircled by houses. The swimming areas are small and generally encircled by boundary ropes. The closest thing to sunken meadow is Sherwood Island in Westport (or maybe it's Southport, can't recall). Calve's Pasture in Norwalk is also OK, a more open feeling than the Westchester town beaches. Fabulous kayaking too in and among all the islands.

How this works for you will depend greatly on your ideas about swimming. If you're looking for pleasant, family beaches where kiddies can hunt periwinkles and you can get wet, the Westchester beaches may be fine. If you do serious swimming outside the break, as is common at Jones, Rbt Moses, Stehli, etc, then you'll be disappointed.