Massive Ferry Lines as NYers Flock To Rockaway Beach and Waterfront Areas

Lines to ride the ferry to Rockaway Beach snaked more than a half-a-mile-long as hundreds of sun-starved New Yorkers tried to escape Manhattan Sunday afternoon.

NYC Ferry estimated wait times were between 60 and 90 minutes for the boat to the Rockaway Peninsula, the busiest route in the system, according to Stephanie Baez, a spokeswoman the city's Economic Development Corporation that manages the city's ferry system. NYC Ferry had chartered four additional boats to increase capacity, she said. 

“Due to the warm holiday weekend, we’re experiencing very high ridership and increased wait times," Baez said.

A very very very long line pic.twitter.com/YyvYAbymG8

— Gwynne Hogan (@GwynneFitz) May 26, 2019

Despite the wait, many were in high spirits with the hope of spending a hot, sunny day catching rays and dipping in the cool ocean waves. 

"It's the first time the whole family took the ferry; so it's exciting and it's convenient," said Melissa Lim, who was waiting with her husband and two young sons. "We live nearby and usually it's not accessible; we don't have a car. This is great."

Others were headed to the Rockaways for the first time, like Savitari Dindial, a teacher who'd lived in New York for 15 years but hadn't ever made it to the famous Queens beach.

"Very first time, [I've] never been so I'm very interested," she said. "It's a big day."

New Yorkers not heading to the sandy beaches spent Sunday dipping in fountains and barbecuing with friends and family. Jaden Linton, 11, helped his uncle set up for family gathering in Herbert von King Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

"I'm really excited for this barbecue to happen," he said. Though his favorite food is spaghetti, when it comes to the cook-outs he's all about the hot dogs; and something else beyond the menu, he said. "My favorite part of the barbecue is having fun with my family."

Nelson Villalobos, 67, a Williamsburg resident, was basking in the sun next to a fountain in a North Brooklyn waterfront park.

"I'm just here enjoying the view for a while then I'll go home and watch the Yankees game. Life is good," said Villalobos, who said he was a Vietnam veteran, who was thinking of fallen soliders this Memorial Day weekend. "Nothing comes free. Sometimes you have to sacrifice. All gave some, some gave all. So you have to remember that."

Update on Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.:

After enjoying a sun-drenched Sunday, many New Yorkers got drenched by surprise downpours just after 5:30 p.m. The rains were especially heavy in Inwood Hill Park, where hundreds of picnic-ers, partiers and ballplayers fled for cover under whatever shelter they could find.

Ball players take cover during a surprise downpour in Inwood Hill Park on May 26, 2019. (Julianne Welby / WNYC)