Jones Beach State Park Celebrates 90th Birthday
WANTAGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- It wasn't just any summer weekend at Jones Beach State Park. The nearly 2,500-acre state park hit a milestone as crowds celebrated its 90th anniversary.
As CBS2's Christina Fan reported Sunday, there were bounce houses and taco trucks, and everyone's favorite part seemed to be the free cupcakes, because what's a party without cake?
Jones Beach first opened back in 1929, and organizers this weekend tried bringing back a lot of that original flavor. There were women dressed up as flappers. Even the parking fee mirrored what it was when the park first opened. Instead of a $10 entrance fee, it was only 50 cents.
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Fan spoke to families who have been coming to the park for decades. They called Jones Beach the crown jewel of Long Island, different because it's so serene and, of course, because of its dazzling beaches. The park become a famous destination for tourists, too, and the locals said they hope to share its brilliance with more visitors in the decades to come.
"We've been talking about how the kids are going to expect now that hen they come to the beach they have a bouncy house and they get free cupcakes," Tarrytown resident Michelle Bhattacharyya said. "And all these things work out really nicely. Fifty cent parking. It has been a beautiful day."
"You get to meet people, talk, relax. It takes your mind off of the day and the food is great," added Jacqueline Hyde of Brooklyn.
The anniversary celebration was also a chance to show off millions of dollars in improvements. Some of the rehabilitation happened at the West Bathhouse.
"It's just fabulous. It's the bee's knees," Jennifer Rouhani said of the upgrades. "There something here for everybody and that's great that you're doing all of these changes."
Later Sunday night, a World War II-era singing group was expected to take the stage at the Central Mall Bandshell.
