1954 Map of West Gilgo Beach

About this map

Tobay Beach Bird and Game Sanctuary sits at the heart of this coastal landscape, illustrating the mid-century preservation of Long Island's barrier beach ecosystem. The map depicts a string of narrow islands and marshy outcrops including South Line Island, Black Banks Island, and Sanford Island sheltered within South Oyster Bay. This era shows the developed recreation infrastructure of Jones Beach State Park and Gilgo State Park, linked by the prominent Ocean Parkway. Small coastal settlements like West Gilgo Beach and Gilgo Beach appear as concentrated clusters against the expansive Atlantic Ocean. The presence of a Sewage Disposal site near Zacks Bay reflects the municipal planning required to support the growing regional park system and nearby residential communities during the 1950s.