Rockaway Beach

Ocean Promenade, Atlantic Ocean, Bch 110

Queens, 11694

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

The origins of the name Rockaway Peninsula is closely related to the language of the Delaware and Chippewa Native Americans. Linguistic experts recognize both “Reckonwacky,” meaning “the place of our own people,” and “Reckanawahaha,” meaning “the place of laughing waters,” as the area’s indigenous names. Following the region’s European colonization during the seventeenth century, the present name was derived from these meanings. Other interpretations include “lekau,” meaning sand, and “lechauwaak,” for fork or branch. All interpretations reflect the historic and geographic traits of the peninsula.

Rockaway Parks Conceptual Plan

Help us guide the long-term development of Rockaway’s parks, beaches, and community.

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Rockaway Beach

All NYC beaches will be open for swimming on Saturday, May 25. Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, and the major rebuilding effort at our beaches, there may be multiple service changes at each beach. Visit our Beach Restoration page for more information on what to expect this summer.