The Active Life: Paddling the New York City Water Trail
September 15th, 2011Sometimes living in the City makes one feel so wholly nestled in urban sprawl that the natural world vanishes from the mindscape. One dreams of trees in brick. So an active, outdoorsy person may suspect that the nearby fields of Central Park, or Prospect Park (or wherever the nearest green space may be) are his only respite. Actually, New York’s extensive waterways offer a great alternative: one of largest kayak networks in the country, with cityside docks and a wildlife refuge to boot.
Unbeknownst to many, New York City operates a unique Water Trail during the warmer months that consists of nearly fifty docks from in and around the Rockaways and Jamaica Bay all the way up along the Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers. Landings occupy strategic sites on both the Upper and Lower Bays. Basically, if a waterway touches one of the five boroughs, there’s very likely bound to be a port in the vicinity.
Just south of Queens lies Jamaica Bay, an estuary that includes 25,000 acres of open water, salt marshes, and small grassy islands. It is a seasonal home to many waterfowl, and boasts large stretches of natural Long Island flora and fauna. Even more surprising, it lies entirely within the New York City metropolitan area.
The Sebago Canoe Club is a non-profit organization headquartered in Canarsie, Brooklyn affiliated with the American Canoe Association and in continuous operation for seventy-five years. The organization has partnered with the New York City Parks and Recreation Department to act as licensed concessionaire to New York City Water Trail users. Additionally the Club offers educational opportunities and coaching for participants in a wide variety of flat-water sports from kayaks to canoes, and sailboats.
For interested parties, the North Atlantic Canoe and Kayak, Inc. (NACK), another New York State non-profit corporation, also fosters a community of paddling enthusiasts. The NACK provides extensive safety instruction and practice sessions so members can hone their skills and enjoy what Long Island has to offer - safely. The group holds monthly meetings and coordinates member participation in ACA expeditions, such as a tour of the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest two summers back.
Here’s the short of it. Water has always been at the heart of New York. If you’re looking for a way to explore the Island’s natural scenery, if you’d like to see the City from a different perspective, or if you’d like to keep active on the weekends, check out this awesome resource.
One must acquire a safety permit to use the launch points ($15), available from an office in each borough. Use necessitates compliance with all federal, state, and local boating laws and regulations. Participants must follow safe practices, such as carrying personal floatation devices (PFDs), current maps and charts. The Parks and Recreation Department also recommends satisfactory training (though not necessarily certification) in CPR, first aid, and treatment of hypothermia.
The New York City Water Trail operates from May to November.
