Silver Gull Beach Club and Breezy Point Surf Club have been integral parts of the Rockaway / Breezy Point area for many years, in fact, the Silver Gull Beach Club was the filming spot of the 1984 classic film "The Flamingo Kid" starring Matt Dillon. Most of the Members at both clubs have been going for many years with some of our oldest members being extras in the film "The Flamingo Kid" we are one big happy family and most of us have never been to the public beach since we have been going to the club all our lives.

But Due to the recent COVID-19 Outbreak the members, employees, and management of Silver Gull Beach Club and Breezy Point Surf Club owned by Ortega National Parks have been ready to begin the Summer 2020 Season and have been taking the proper precautions necessary to protect ourselves against the virus but have been anxiously awaiting the approval of the National Parks Service and Gateway National Recreation Area for over 3 months on whether or not we can open the Cabanas, Pools, and Day Camp at both clubs. Since, they do not belong to a specific phase in the NYS Re-Opening Plan it is up to the National Parks Service to decide whether or not we can open since, the club is on federal land. As Members, we are getting sick and tired of the National Parks Service preventing our club from opening as we have a limited time frame since our season would have normally started on Memorial Day Weekend May 23rd and ended the weekend after Labor Day September 13th.

Currently, both clubs are allowed to operate only offering the services of Beach Access, Restrooms, and Take-Out from the Cafeteria for the cost of a daily admittance fee of  $10 for Adults and $5 for Kids when we would normally pay a Membership Fee and the price of a Cabana or Cabenette for season-round access. Most members have been wearing masks and social distancing while spending time at the club but have been annoyed by the fact that we have to lug our beach chairs and other personal items to and from the club each time we come when traditionally, we would store them in our cabanas which also serve as our miniature home away from home where some families have been for over 50 years and design them to fit their own personal taste with some members spending thousands of dollars on flooring, appliances, furniture and more. We have invested so much in our cabanas and it is heartbreaking not being able to access them.

We are demanding that the National Parks Service and Gateway National Recreation Area allow Ortega National Parks to open up the cabanas, pools, and day camp at both the Silver Gull Beach Club and Breezy Point Surf Club.

We see no reason why the pools, cabanas, and day camp cannot open by the beginning of July when many summer camps, hotels, and private pools in the NYC Area such as Mill Basin Day Camp, Tannenbaum Family Pool, and The TWA Hotel are opening their pools for swimming and many beach clubs in the Long Island Area and across New York State such as Silver Point Beach Club which is about a half-hour away from both clubs were able to open with full-access to cabanas,  beach, and day camp with some restrictions on May 30th with Pools being allowed to open on June 13th and their day camp will be opening July 13th. 

Our CEO Frank Pikus has put forth many different proposals geared toward ensuring proper social distancing and crowding issues when the club is eventually allowed to open and will require all members to wear a mask at all times, social distance, and adhere to all other guidelines, or risk expulsion from the club.

Our pools are currently being filled and the property is being prepared for opening but we need the approval of the National Parks Service and Gateway National Recreation Area in order to do so.

Please Sign this Petition and help out the members of Silver Gull Beach Club and Breezy Point Surf Club come back to our home away from home and begin our Summer 2020 Season.