Orchard Beach and Bronx Rent a Car

Orchard Beach is a public beach in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. This popular beach draws large crowds. On hot days this beach draws tens of thousands of families, swimmers, athletes, and loungers. On cooler days, its shores make a perfect setting for peaceful strolls, and its basketball and volleyball courts and its playgrounds continue to welcome all of its neighbors.

Fun in the sun

Orchard Beach is most famous for being referred to as he Riviera of New York City" and it's not a stretch where the name comes from. the 115 acre, 1.1 mile long (1.77 km) park consists of a 13-section sandy beach, a hexagonal block promenade, a central pavilion with food stores and specialty shops, two playgrounds, two picnic areas, a large parking lot, and 26 courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball. It is operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. It is most recognized for its unique crescent shape, and beautiful view of City Island, Bronx. You can see all this and more when you travel to Orchard Beach with your Bronx rent a car.

A little history

Although Orchard Beach is relatively new, the site was actually visited by the early Native American tribes who walked around the area's beaches and nearby islands for hundreds of years. While the beach's name recalls the orchards that once existed on the nearby private estates in the area, the site is in fact the product of a large public works project incorporating landfill and barge-loads of sand. The beach was one of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses's greatest projects. In 1903, supervised facilities with bathhouses, picnic tables, and cooking facilities on Rodman's Neck, were opened. By 1907, the Bronx Parks Department had cleared land near the beach for campsites and began issuing permits. Camping increased steadily in subsequent years, and by 1917, seasonal attendance had risen to half a million users. See what everyone is talking about when you travel to Orchard Beach with your Bronx rent a car today!

Turning something old into something new

Although Orchard Beach is surrounded by acres of natural forest, marshlands and coastline you will be surprised to learn that the beach is actually man-made. The concept and plan for its construction was all made by renowned urban planner Robert Moses. The process involved filling in approximately one third of Pelham Bay with landfill, followed by a total of 1.2 million cubic yards of sand, brought by barge from Sandy Hook, New Jersey and the Rockaways in Queens. The landfill was put between Rodman's Neck, Twin Island and Hunters Island; the latter two are no longer islands since being connected to the mainland Bronx by the landfill.

Lots of fun in the sun

Orchard Beach has tons of events that you can enjoy when you travel with your Bronx rent a car. Enjoy a picnic, or pick up game of volleyball whatever our interest is Orchards Beach has it! You should definitely take advantage of Orchard Beach's location and make some time to observe the wildlife that surround the area. One major event is the raptors migration that occurs around May. It is a sight you won't want to miss out on. In addition you can find various other things including photography exhibitions, ping pong tournaments, fencing and nature walks just to name a few.

Before you go?

For more information when you travel to Orchard Beach with your Bronx rent a car check out the New York City Department of Parks & Recreations official website at www.nycgovparks.org or call 212 NEW YORK.

Check out the Brooklyn car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 8901 4th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11209