Canarsie Pier
A park on Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn
Canarsie Pier -- part of Gateway National Recreation Area -- has been a hotspot for the fishing community for more than 300 years. Today, the pier is known by locals as a prime location to catch blue fish and fluke, and a scenic spot to picnic near the waters of Jamaica Bay.
In the 19th century, Canarsie was a center for commercial fishing. By the early 1900's, the waterfront also became a popular recreation area with a yacht club, summer bungalows, and a floating bath house. The area was rumored to house some of the most raucous establishments in the city, filled with colorful characters. Unfortunately, by 1920 urban pollution from the rapidly expanding population made the fish unfit for consumption. The City of New York built the 600-foot pier that exists today as a commercial dock, but the goal of turning Jamaica Bay into a seaport never reached fruition. The National Park Service took control of this historic site in 1973, and pollution management over the past three decades has restored the water quality of Jamaica Bay.
Canarsie Pier is now open to the public for fishing, picnicking, and recreation. The pier is surrounded by a protected shoreline and salt marshes that provide a beautiful natural backdrop.
