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Fort Tilden Historic District, is a former
United States Army installation on the coast in the
New York City borough of
Queens. Fort Tilden now forms part of the
Gateway National Recreation Area, and is administered by the
National Park Service.
Fort Tilden Historic District is located on the
Rockaway Peninsula, between
Jacob Riis Park to the east and
Breezy Point Tip to the west. All three of these sites are operated by the National Park Service.
Since its decommissioning, as of 2014 the former installation has largely become a natural area of beach, dunes and maritime forest. Most of the old military installations are abandoned, and military structures which formerly housed artillery (batteries) and ammunition (magazines) are covered in graffiti. A few buildings have been renovated and are used by local arts groups, and some large open areas are used as sports grounds. Atop one of the old batteries, Battery Harris East, a viewing platform has 360-degree views, which include the city,
New York Harbor, and the
Atlantic Ocean. The wilder parts of Fort Tilden are popular with bird-watchers and other nature-lovers, and the beach areas are frequently used for fishing.***
