Jones Beach State Park Opens New West Games Area

Jones Beach State Park now offers a mini-golf course, refurbished tennis and shuffleboard courts, cornhole, and more.

By Patrick Gunn July 13, 2020

Jones Beach State Park has new recreation features, which opened to the public on July 9, to spruce up its West Games Area. The updates offer a creative vibe for the classic park, providing great activities for families along the shore.

The new play area provides colorful, fun attractions for people of all ages. The new amenities include a mini-golf course, new courts for cornhole and pickle ball, refurbished courts for paddle tennis and shuffleboard, and new benches, tables, fencing, and lighting just to name a few improvements.

“Jones Beach is more than just a park, it is a living testament to New York ingenuity and a historic public attraction that has brought joy to New York families for generations,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press release. “These new and improved gaming areas will give families a chance to relax and have fun even during these unprecedented times, and we will continue our work to make Jones Beach an exciting destination for every New Yorker.”

The recent updates are part of a $6.6 million improvement plan for Jones Beach State Park. Since 2011, the state has completed more than $100 million in projects to restore the park as a part of Governor Cuomo’s New York Parks 2020 commitment to rejuvenating the state’s parks.

The West Game Area is one of several areas at the Jones Beach State Park to see massive improvements over the past decade. There has been a push to improve the greenery at the park. As a result, the West Bathhouse and East Games Area at The Central Mall has had new lawns and planting beds, new irrigation and electrical systems, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and seasonal plants. In addition, playgrounds, the Boardwalk Café, and the WildPlay Adventure park opened because of the state’s plans.

In the last two years, the park has undergone other changes to better each guest’s visiting experience at the park. Last summer, the Jones Beach Shared Use Path, a 4½-mile trail for walking, running, biking, and skating along the shoreline, opened to the public. Plus, the East Games Area was updated with new basketball courts, lighting, fencing, benches, and water fountains.

Jones Beach State Park has been an iconic feature in New York since it originally opened in 1929. In 2005, the National Register of Historic Places added the park to its list. The park has 6½ miles of beaches for walking and swimming, along with a boardwalk to get a different view of the shores.

The park is home to a wide variety of natural beauties, including many species of birds, shells, and horseshoe crabs along the shore. These new amenities add to the overall experience of visiting Jones Beach State Park, while preserving the vast and gorgeous shoreline wildlife that has always been present at the park.

"Governor Cuomo's commitment to Jones Beach will benefit visitors for many years to come," said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. "This park is a jewel that is shining brighter than ever."

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