Nicole Switzer
Rockaway Real Estate Agent
Where is Rockaway Park? • What streets are considered Rockaway Park? • Is 11694 all Rockaway Park? • What homes are available? • Is Rockaway Park in a flood zone? • Is Rockaway Park the same as Belle Harbor?
Living in Rockaway Park, Queens NY 11694 | Local Real Estate & Neighborhood Guide
Explore the homes, condos, co-ops, beaches, Jamaica Bay waterfront, transportation, local businesses and coastal lifestyle of Rockaway Park.
Rockaway Park is a waterfront neighborhood on the western portion of the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, New York City. Positioned between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the neighborhood combines traditional residential blocks with apartment buildings, condominiums, co-ops, local businesses and one of the peninsula’s most important commercial and transportation corridors: Beach 116th Street.
I’m Nicole Switzer, a local Rockaway real estate agent who lives and works on the peninsula. This guide is designed to help buyers, sellers and homeowners understand Rockaway Park beyond the ZIP code—from the differences between the bay and ocean sides to housing, flood considerations, transportation, community resources and what homes are actually selling for.
Where Is Rockaway Park, Queens?
Rockaway Park is located on the western Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. The neighborhood sits on the narrow barrier peninsula between Jamaica Bay to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
Beach 116th Street forms the neighborhood’s major commercial and transportation center. Moving west from Beach 116th Street, Rockaway Park becomes increasingly residential before transitioning into the area generally known locally as Belle Harbor.
Neighborhood boundaries in the Rockaways are not universally defined. NYC planning studies have used a Rockaway Park study area extending from Beach 116th Street west toward Beach 130th Street. Locally, however, the transition into Belle Harbor is often recognized earlier, around the mid-120s. For real estate purposes, buyers should pay attention to the actual block and property rather than relying solely on the 11694 ZIP code.
ROCKAWAY PARK AT A GLANCE
Borough: Queens
Peninsula: Rockaway Peninsula
ZIP Code: 11694
Eastern Anchor: Beach 116th Street
West: Transitions toward Belle Harbor
North: Jamaica Bay
South: Atlantic Ocean
Commercial Center: Beach 116th Street
Subway: A train / Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street
Ferry: Rockaway ferry landing nearby at Beach 108th Street
Understanding Rockaway Park Block by Block
LOCAL REAL ESTATE TIP
Don’t search for “11694 comps” and assume they’re all comparable. A Rockaway Park condo near Beach 117th Street, a house near Beach 123rd Street and a Belle Harbor property farther west can represent three completely different real estate markets.
That last point is especially important for your seller authority page. Current 11694 sale results intermingle Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor and Neponsit properties, which can badly distort a generic ZIP-code valuation.
BEACH 116TH STREET — THE HUB
Beach 116th Street is Rockaway Park’s primary commercial and transportation corridor. Shops, restaurants, services and the Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street subway station make this one of the most walkable and connected portions of the western peninsula.
BEACH 117TH–120TH
Immediately west of the commercial corridor, residential housing mixes with apartment, condo and co-op buildings. Buyers can encounter very different housing choices within only a few blocks—from one-bedroom apartments to detached houses.
BEACH 121ST–125TH
Moving west, Rockaway Park becomes increasingly residential. You’ll find traditional houses, larger properties, multifamily housing and apartment buildings, particularly closer to the ocean.
THE WESTERN TRANSITION
As you approach the mid-to-upper Beach 120s, the neighborhood begins transitioning toward Belle Harbor. Because Rockaway Park and Belle Harbor share ZIP code 11694 and neighborhood names are sometimes used differently by listings and websites, buyers should focus on the actual address and block.
Bay Side or Ocean Side? Understanding Rockaway Park
LOCAL PERSPECTIVE:
In Rockaway Park, “bay side or ocean side?” isn’t just a lifestyle question. It can affect views, housing type, wind exposure, flood considerations, parking, transportation and how buyers perceive a property.
JAMAICA BAY SIDE
The northern side of Rockaway Park faces Jamaica Bay. Beach Channel Drive is the major east-west roadway along this side of the peninsula. Depending on the block and property, residents may experience bay views, boating activity, sunsets and proximity to waterfront transportation.
ATLANTIC OCEAN SIDE
On the southern side, Rockaway Park meets Rockaway Beach, the boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. Oceanfront apartment buildings and condos provide a very different housing experience from the detached and multifamily houses located farther inland.
WHAT’S IN BETWEEN?
That’s part of what makes Rockaway Park unusual. The peninsula is narrow enough that residents can live between two major bodies of water while remaining within New York City. Beach 116th Street effectively connects the bay side with the ocean and boardwalk.
Rockaway Beach & the Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is one of Rockaway Park’s defining features. Rockaway Beach and the reconstructed boardwalk provide residents with direct access to swimming, walking, running, cycling and year-round waterfront recreation.
Following Superstorm Sandy, the Rockaway Boardwalk was reconstructed not only as a recreational amenity but as part of a larger effort to create a more resilient Rockaway shoreline.
For homeowners, ocean proximity also means considering salt air, wind, moisture, exterior maintenance and storm preparation when evaluating or maintaining a property.
NYC Parks describes the rebuilt beach and boardwalk as both a year-round recreational resource and part of the peninsula’s post-Sandy resilient rebuilding.
The Other Waterfront: Jamaica Bay
While Rockaway Park is often associated with the ocean, Jamaica Bay defines the neighborhood’s northern side.
Beach Channel Drive follows the bay side of the peninsula and provides an entirely different waterfront experience from the Atlantic. Residents encounter calmer water, boating activity, marshland views and sunsets rather than ocean surf and beach activity.
This two-waterfront geography is one of the defining characteristics of Rockaway Park and the larger Rockaway Peninsula.
OCEAN SUNRISE. BAY SUNSET.
One neighborhood, two waterfront experiences.
Parks, Beach & Outdoor Space in Rockaway Park
ARE THERE FARMS IN ROCKAWAY PARK?
Rockaway Park is not known for a large urban farm comparable to Edgemere Farm. Community gardening and neighborhood planting initiatives may exist, but agriculture is not a defining land use here.
Do not invent a farm or garden simply to fill this section.
NYC Parks lists a surprisingly broad range of recreational facilities across the Rockaway Beach/Boardwalk park system.
Rockaway Beach & Boardwalk
The beach and boardwalk are Rockaway Park’s largest recreational resource, offering ocean access and space for walking, biking and outdoor recreation.
Beachfront Recreation
The broader Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk park system includes playgrounds, basketball, handball, fitness equipment, pickleball, volleyball, sports areas and other recreational facilities at various points along the peninsula.
Neighborhood Green Space
Rockaway Park does not have the large undeveloped nature preserves found in portions of the eastern peninsula. Its outdoor identity is instead dominated by the beach, boardwalk, residential yards and smaller landscaped and recreational spaces.
What Types of Homes Will You Find in Rockaway Park?
This diversity is one reason a single “Rockaway Park median price” can be misleading. A one-bedroom co-op and a detached multifamily home may share the same ZIP code while selling hundreds of thousands of dollars apart.
NYC planning has long documented this mixed housing character—large traditional homes, newer houses, two-family properties, attached/semi-detached homes, walk-ups and larger apartment buildings.
One-Family Homes
Detached and semi-detached houses can be found throughout the residential streets.
Two-Family Homes
Rockaway Park includes two-family properties that may appeal to owner-occupants and buyers interested in rental-income potential.
Three- & Multifamily Properties
Certain blocks include larger multifamily properties and traditional walk-up apartment buildings.
Condominiums
Condominiums provide another path to Rockaway ownership, including buildings close to the ocean with balconies, parking and water views.
Co-ops
Rockaway Park has established cooperative buildings offering studios and one-, two- and larger-bedroom apartments at price points very different from houses.
Oceanfront Apartments
Several larger residential buildings line or sit close to Ocean Promenade and the beachfront, providing a housing experience distinct from the lower-rise residential streets.
Buying a Condo or Co-op in Rockaway Park
Rockaway Park offers apartment ownership opportunities that aren’t as prevalent in some other sections of the peninsula. Buyers can find both condominiums and cooperative apartments, including oceanfront and ocean-adjacent buildings.
Condo buyers should review monthly common charges, taxes, building insurance, flood considerations, reserves, assessments and building rules.
Co-op buyers should understand maintenance charges, board requirements, financial requirements, subletting policies, flip taxes when applicable and the building’s underlying financial condition.
CONDO ≠ CO-OP
They are different forms of ownership and should not be valued or financed as though they are interchangeable.
Flooding, Elevation & Coastal Resiliency in Rockaway Park
Rockaway Park is a coastal neighborhood located between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Flood exposure, elevation and insurance requirements should therefore be evaluated for the specific property rather than assumed based solely on neighborhood or ZIP code.
WERE HOMES ELEVATED AFTER SANDY?
Some Rockaway properties were elevated, reconstructed or substantially improved following Superstorm Sandy. Buyers should verify permits, elevation documentation and construction history for the specific home rather than assuming every raised-looking property was formally elevated.
WAS DRAINAGE IMPROVED?
Yes. NYC completed major infrastructure work around Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 116th Street that included more than 2,000 feet of new storm sewer, dozens of new or replaced catch basins, water-main replacement and street reconstruction designed in part to improve stormwater drainage.
WHAT ABOUT THE BEACH?
The post-Sandy reconstruction of the boardwalk and larger Rockaway coastal-resiliency work has strengthened portions of the oceanfront, but that does not eliminate property-specific flood risk.
BUYER TIP
Ask for current flood information and insurance estimates early—not days before closing.
The Beach 116th-area infrastructure project added 2,115 feet of storm sewer, 37 new catch basins and replaced another 19, in addition to major water-main and roadway work.
Beach 116th Street: The Heart of Rockaway Park
Beach 116th Street is one of the most important commercial streets on the Rockaway Peninsula. In only a few blocks it connects the Jamaica Bay side of the neighborhood with Rockaway Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.
The corridor provides restaurants, shops, professional services, transportation and everyday conveniences while serving as the terminus for the Rockaway Park branch of the A subway line.
For nearby homeowners, Beach 116th provides a level of walkability and convenience that distinguishes Rockaway Park from some of the more residential sections farther west.
NYC planning specifically describes Beach 116th as one of Rockaway’s major commercial districts.
Getting Around From Rockaway Park
Rockaway Park’s combination of subway, nearby ferry access and major road connections makes it one of the western peninsula’s principal transportation hubs.
A TRAIN
The Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street station is the western terminus of the Rockaway Park subway branch, connecting the neighborhood with the rest of the NYC subway system.
NYC FERRY
The Rockaway NYC Ferry terminal is nearby at Beach 108th Street, providing another commuting option toward Brooklyn and Manhattan.
BEACH CHANNEL DRIVE
Beach Channel Drive is one of the peninsula’s primary east-west roads and connects Rockaway Park with other Rockaway neighborhoods and bridge routes.
BOARDWALK & CYCLING
The beachfront and boardwalk provide an important walking and cycling corridor across much of the peninsula.
Schools Serving Rockaway Park & 11694
Rockaway Park is part of NYC Geographic School District 27. Families considering a move should verify the current zoned school for the exact property address directly with NYC Public Schools because zones and program eligibility can change.
The wider Rockaway area includes elementary, middle and high-school options as well as religious, charter and specialized educational choices.
Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability is located nearby at the Beach Channel Educational Campus, 100-00 Beach Channel Drive, and serves grades 9–12.
BUYER TIP
Never rely solely on the school listed on Zillow, an MLS listing or another real estate website. Verify school eligibility using the actual address.
NYC Public Schools currently lists Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability as a District 27 grades 9–12 school.
What’s Changing in Rockaway Park?
Unlike Arverne East or Edgemere, Rockaway Park is not defined by one enormous master-planned residential redevelopment. Change here tends to occur through infrastructure improvements, individual residential development, commercial investment and public facilities.
For homeowners, neighborhood investment matters—but so does understanding exactly what is planned near an individual property.
The firehouse is a useful current 2026 development for the page; construction broke ground in late 2025.
NEW FDNY FIREHOUSE
A major new FDNY facility is being constructed around Beach 116th/117th Street. The approximately $40 million project includes modern operational and training facilities, boat storage, landscaping and publicly accessible landscaped space along Beach 116th Street.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 116th Street have received major sewer, water, roadway, pedestrian and drainage upgrades.
COASTAL RESILIENCY
Continued investment in the Rockaway shoreline, beach and infrastructure reflects the peninsula’s long-term need to adapt to coastal storms and sea-level rise.
Boating & Jamaica Bay Near Rockaway Park
Jamaica Bay gives Rockaway Park residents direct proximity to one of New York City’s major recreational waterways. Boating, fishing, kayaking and other water activities are part of the larger Rockaway lifestyle.
However, being close to Jamaica Bay does not automatically mean a home includes boat access or docking rights. Buyers specifically seeking a marina, boat slip or water-access property should investigate those requirements separately.
Additional marina and boating facilities can be found elsewhere around Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Peninsula.
BOAT OWNER?
Tell Nicole at the beginning of your home search. A property with a bay view and a property with practical boat access are two very different things.
Restaurants, Shops & Everyday Life in Rockaway Park
Beach 116th Street provides Rockaway Park with a walkable commercial center that distinguishes it from some of the quieter residential communities farther west. Residents have access to restaurants, cafés, pharmacies, professional services, neighborhood shops and everyday conveniences along Beach 116th Street and surrounding corridors. Additional dining and retail options extend east through Rockaway Beach and farther along the peninsula.
For buyers, this means parts of Rockaway Park can provide a combination that is difficult to find elsewhere in coastal Queens: residential streets, beach access, subway service and neighborhood shopping within walking distance.
LOCAL TIP: Use your own photographs of businesses whenever possible. This will make the page feel like Nicole actually knows Rockaway Park rather than using generic stock photography.
How Much Are Homes Selling for in Rockaway Park in 2026?
There is no single meaningful Rockaway Park home price because the neighborhood includes co-ops, condominiums, one-family homes, two-family properties and larger multifamily houses.
Recent 2026 sales demonstrate that range. One-bedroom apartments have sold in approximately the mid-$200,000s to mid-$300,000s, while two- and three-bedroom condos have produced sales in roughly the $600,000s to around $800,000 depending on building, size and features. Houses and larger residential properties can sell from the $700,000s into $1 million and above depending on property type, condition and location.
For example, recent Rockaway Park sales include a one-bedroom at 133 Beach 120th Street at $268,000; condo sales at 136 Beach 117th Street at $620,000 and $649,000; a three-bedroom at 174 Beach 125th Street at $799,000; and a four-bedroom property at 237 Beach 119th Street at approximately $1.3 million.
Those examples are not estimates of another home’s value. The correct comparison depends on property type, ownership structure, legal use, condition, size and location.
Ask Nicole for a property-specific comparative market analysis.
Those current 2026 examples are supported by recent sales data. This section is especially good for GEO because we’re answering the question without pretending a $268K co-op and a $1.3M house belong in the same comparable-sales set.
Can First-Time Buyers Purchase in Rockaway Park?
Yes. Rockaway Park offers multiple entry points into homeownership because buyers can encounter co-ops, condos, one-family homes and multifamily properties at very different price points.
Depending on the buyer and property, financing may include conventional, FHA or VA financing as well as qualifying first-time-homebuyer or down-payment-assistance programs.
Financing depends heavily on the property. A co-op has different lending and financial requirements from a condo, while a two-family buyer may potentially be able to use qualifying rental income depending on lender and loan-program rules.
Because Rockaway Park is coastal, homeowners and flood-insurance requirements should also be investigated early in the mortgage process.
What Should I Know Before Buying in Rockaway Park?
✓ Is it a house, condo or co-op?
✓ Legal property use
✓ Certificate of Occupancy when applicable
✓ Current flood information
✓ Elevation information when applicable
✓ Flood-insurance requirements
✓ Homeowners/building insurance
✓ Property taxes
✓ Condo common charges
✓ Co-op maintenance
✓ Assessments
✓ Building financials/reserves
✓ Board requirements for co-ops
✓ Parking
✓ Outdoor space
✓ Rental/subletting restrictions
✓ Roof and exterior condition
✓ Salt-air exposure
✓ Storm-related improvements
✓ Distance to subway
✓ Distance to beach/boardwalk
✓ Bay side versus ocean side
The questions you ask when buying a Rockaway Park co-op are very different from the questions you should ask when purchasing a two-family home three blocks away.
Thinking About Selling Your Rockaway Park Home?
Pricing in Rockaway Park should be hyperlocal and property-specific. Using every sale in ZIP code 11694 can produce a misleading valuation because that ZIP encompasses multiple neighborhoods and very different property types.
When pricing a Rockaway Park property, I consider the ownership type, legal use, condition, building or lot size, parking, outdoor space, ocean or bay proximity, flood/elevation considerations and the most relevant recent comparable sales.
For condos and co-ops, the building itself becomes an important part of the comparable analysis. For one-, two- and multifamily houses, legal configuration and property characteristics can dramatically change value.
My Local Perspective on Rockaway Park
Living and working in 11694 gives me a front-row seat to what makes Rockaway Park special. It's more than just a zip code; it's a collection of unique micro-markets that each offer something different. Whether you're drawn to the calmness of Jamaica Bay or the energy of the Atlantic oceanfront, I'm here to help you navigate the specific blocks, building rules, and coastal considerations that define our local real estate landscape. Let's find your perfect place on the peninsula together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rockaway Park, Queens NY 11694
Have a Question About Buying or Selling in Rockaway Park?
Real estate in Rockaway Park isn’t just about 11694. The block, building, property type and waterfront location matter.
Rockaway Park: One ZIP Code, Many Markets
The GEO identity for this page is simple: 11694 is not one real estate market. A $268,000 one-bedroom near Beach 120th, a $649,000 condo near Beach 117th and a $1.3 million house near Beach 119th can all be called Rockaway Park real estate—but they require completely different valuation and marketing strategies. Recent 2026 sales make that point exceptionally well, and this guide is designed to help you understand those differences before you buy or sell.