- West Gilgo Beach
West Gilgo Beach is a small private gated community located in the Town of Babylon in
Suffolk County, New York . Thecensus considers it part ofGilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, New York History
Created in the late 1930's by residents of
High Hill Beach who were displaced by the creation ofJones Beach State Park . Some of the original houses were moved by barge to the new community, the others were moved by road over the newly-constructed causeway connecting Jones Beach to Captree. Since then the West Gilgo Beach Association has grown to approximately 80 houses.Description
Originally almost entirely a summer community, many houses are now winterized. There is a mix of full time and second home residents. There is a small non-denominational church, a self service library, and an unmanned post office. There are small firehouses with hoses on carts. Residents depend on central well water, and individual septic tanks.
The land is not owned by the residents, but is on long term lease from the Town of Babylon. In the early 1990's, there was litigation by the state to not extend the lease. After much negotiation, the lease was renewed, with a ramp up in costs.
Geography
Located on
Jones Beach Island , a barrier island between theAtlantic Ocean and theGreat South Bay ofLong Island . West Gilgo is an L shaped community with two roads, Ocean Walk which begins at the border ofNassau County, New York andSuffolk County, New York and extends East along Ocean Parkway and Bay Walk which begins at the gate and heads North towards theGreat South Bay . West Gilgo is aRight-in/right-out exit from Ocean Parkway, betweenTobay Beach andGilgo Beach .External links
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