Fifty structures once stood proudly at Cedar Grove Beach. Now only seven remain. This isn’t just a beach. It’s a living testament to Staten Island’s past. Imagine the bustling Cedar Grove Beach Club of the early 20th century. Vacationers flocked to its private shores. Beachfront bungalows dotted the landscape. A clubhouse barn and other buildings stood testament to a bygone era.
Cedar Grove Beach wasn’t just a vacation spot. It was a community a place where families made memories that lasted for generations. People spent summers here. They built bonds as strong as the pilings that supported their bungalows. But in the 1950s Robert Moses’ plans for a parkway threatened this idyllic scene. The bungalows faced demolition.
Miraculously the parkway was never built. The city leased the land back to the club. Cedar Grove Beach Club continued its legacy. But this reprieve was temporary. In 1962 the city acquired the land. By 2010 the last beach colony on Staten Island was closing its doors.
The eviction of residents was a bittersweet moment. The end of an era. The beginning of a new one. The city’s plan was to transform Cedar Grove into a public park and beach. A bold ambitious project. Five bungalows the clubhouse and the barn were preserved. They would become a visitor center a comfort station lifeguard headquarters a concession area and more. This transformation is ongoing but already a portion of Cedar Grove Beach opened in 2011.
Cedar Grove Beach isn’t just sand and sea. It’s a story of resilience. A community that persevered for generations. A place where the past meets the present. A reminder that even in change memories live on. The sounds of waves crashing against the shore echo the stories of those who once called this place home. The salty air carries the scent of history. The view is breathtaking. You can almost hear the laughter of children playing on the sand.
Cedar Grove Beach. It’s more than just a beach. It’s a legacy.