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SUMMERTIME and the living is easy. Well, not that easy. Thethermometer inches closer to 100 degrees every day and every minute spent in the subway or the railroad, in the street or at home just magnifies that primal need to get to a body of water and lie in the sand. Thank goodness for the public beaches.
At minimal cost, New Yorkers who would rather swim than swelter can hop in a car or use public transportation to get to a place where the waves roll in and the seagulls fly by. There's no need to get on the plane and head off to Aruba or the south of France.
Beachgoing is clearly a matter of taste. But as diverse as New Yorkers are, there is a beach to suit any taste. From the peripatetic pace at Jones Beach to the blissful quiet of Hither Hills State Park Beach, from the calm waters off Sunken Meadow State Park Beach to the surf at Rockaway Beach, New Yorkers can pick and choose a beach to fit their needs and temperament.
Coney Island remains a symbol of the old days in Brooklyn, but Brighton and Manhattan Beaches still attract a loyal crowd. Jacob Riis Park Beach has a wilderness feel, quite unusual for a spot in one of the world's largest cities. And Rockaway Beach remains impressive because of its expanse of beach.
At Robert Moses State Park Beach and Smith Point County Beach, the choice may not be more than sand, surf or a quick hot dog and beer, but crowds still flock there to take in the beauty of a beach surrounded by dunes.
The following is a review of several public beaches in New York and on Long Island. Each beach is rated according to quality of sand and surf, amenities such as restrooms and concessions, and conveniences such as parking and accessibility.
CONEY ISLAND BEACH
Just the words "Coney Island" bring back memories of doo-wopp groups singing songs like "Under The Boardwalk" or "Coney Island Baby" near a roaring garbage-can fire in some quiet alley. Coney Island Beach was synonomous with the color and flavor of New York City of another era.
Coney Island is still in many ways the granddaddy of...