Orchard Beach — Attraction in New York

Been coming here since I was a kid, some things have changed, something’s have mainly stayed the same, but regardless, once you step foot onto Orchard Beach, its definitely a NY vibe, everyone relaxing, chilling with friends and family, blasting their own music with their portable speakers, it’s all positive vibes at Orchard Beach. 🏖️🌊😎

Parking is $12 on the weekends and holidays during the summer months, $10 for weekdays only. Then after the season is over during the winter months, parking is free again. It’s a large parking lot but can get busy on the weekends especially the first few rows of spaces leading to the beach entrance.

The atmosphere: it is loud for the most part and that’s what Orchard beach is really known for. Many groups of people blasting their own music, a mix of mostly Spanish music, and some hip hop. Some people on the beach even dancing to some of the music too and having a good time, no one really complains about the music because they come to this beach and expect this place to be loaded with music everywhere, there’s really no set rules on how loud your music can be here. There are a few NYPD cruisers riding around the boardwalk making sure the beach and the park is safe, the cops don’t bother anyone and they even vibe out to the music and talk with the beach goers, the NYPD and the Parks Dept. don’t care about the loud music here. It really seems that the many people blasting music are trying to compete with one another on how loud their speakers can get 😂🤣

There is a quiet side of Orchard Beach all the way at the end of the boardwalk, there is a walking trail and a fishing spot (although there is a no fishing sign posted😂) the beach at each end are way less crowded than the smack in the middle of the beach where all the beach goers are. It’s a very far walk to walk all the way to the end to find a quiet spot, but honestly it’s worth it if you hate all the music blasting and large crowds.

Orchard beach also has sprinklers for the kids, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball, and a large grassy area to barbecue and have a family gathering. It really is a nice place to have a birthday party or a family outing. Not sure if you need permits to have a party or not.

One thing that sucks is the bathrooms. They are very dirty and old. A part of the men’s bathroom is closed for maintenance, but it’s been like that for...

Orchard Beach: The Bronx’s Best-Kept Breezy Secret

If you’ve ever wanted to escape the sand-scorched, shade-deprived chaos of Rockaway or Coney Island, Orchard Beach is your quiet rebellion. Small, quaint, and blessedly quiet, it’s the kind of place where you can hear your own thoughts, and not just someone’s Bluetooth speaker three towels over.

There’s sand, yes, but also grass, actual grass! And shade. Real, leafy, glorious shade. Trees that don’t just exist for decoration, but for salvation. I didn’t know how much I missed sitting under a tree until Orchard Beach reminded me that sunburn isn’t a personality trait.

The concessions? Surprisingly solid. Think beach-worthy bites that won’t make you regret your life choices. Burgers, fries, ice cream, and even a few curveballs that feel like someone actually thought about what beachgoers want. The staff? Friendly, patient, and somehow unfazed by the existential chaos of summer crowds. I asked for extra sauce and as a bonus I got a smile instead of a sigh - miraculous.

Now, let’s talk history. Orchard Beach was born in the 1930s, a Robert Moses brainchild that stitched together islands with landfill to create the Bronx’s only public beach. It opened in 1937 with a bathhouse, a cafeteria, and enough locker space for 5,400 people. At its peak, it could host 100,000 bathers. That’s not a typo. One hundred thousand. The beach was so grand, it earned the nickname “Bronx Riviera,” which is both accurate and aspirational.

And the future? Oh, it’s looking good. The iconic bathhouse pavilion, closed for years, is getting a $100 million glow-up. Think restored terrazzo floors, blue terracotta tiles, and ramps that actually make the place accessible. There’s even a new maintenance and operations building with solar panels and a green roof, completed ahead of schedule and under budget (a New York miracle).

So yes, Orchard Beach is having a renaissance. And I, for one, am here for it. Come for the shade, stay for the history, and leave with a sun-kissed soul and a stomach...

Orchard Beach is nice because you can do different things there. They have tennis courts (not that great but not too bad) handball/racquetball courts. They have grills and benches where you can bring your own grill and set up for a nice barbecue under the trees. They have paths to bike ride or walk. They have bathrooms for men & women and so many shops opened during the season to buy food and different things. The beach water you never know when jellyfish are there and it's not that clean during the season because the sand is kicked up and people can just be nasty throwing their garbage places where the incoming tide can pull it into the water. The beach has come a long way from where it was at a time with turds and stuff floating in the water. People come play their radios loud so you get to hear different styles of music which can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. They did have a section where you couldn't play music and that was known as the section to go to if you wanted quiet. Supposedly there is a section where you can go topless but I've never seen it so I dont know if it's rumor or truth. They also have a little park with swings, slides and a sprinkler for the kids and anyone who want to wet themselves down to cool off without having to get in the beach water. They also have shower heads on the boardwalk where you can wash your feet off when you're ready to leave or cool yourself off if you dont want to get in the beach water but need to cool off and wet your dog down.😊😎🐕🐶 the parking has gone up and is quite expensive for the people who usually go to just play handball, paddleball or racquetball but if you're making a whole day of it, it's good for the day but not an...