| Amsterdam Beach State Park | |
|---|---|
  Location of Amsterdam Beach State Park within New York State | |
| Type | State park (undeveloped) |
| Location | Suffolk County, New York |
| Nearest city | Montauk, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°02′39″N71°53′48″W / 41.044218°N 71.896688°W /41.044218; -71.896688 |
| Area | 199 acres (0.81 km2)[1] |
| Created | 2005 (2005) |
| Operated by | |
| Visitors | 28,272 (in 2023)[2] |
| Open | All year |
Amsterdam Beach State Park is a 199-acre (0.81 km2) undevelopedstate park on theAtlantic Ocean in theTown of East Hampton just east ofMontauk,New York. The land is also known as theAmsterdam Beach Preserve.[3]
The area is referred to locally as theMontauk Moorlands, and was privately owned prior to the state's initial purchase of 122 acres (0.49 km2) in 2005. The land was acquired for a total of $16.5 million, of which theTown of East Hampton paid $6 million,Suffolk County paid $5.5 million, New York State paid $4 million, and $1 million was paid from a federal grant.[4]
At the time of its purchase, the property represented one of the largest unprotected continuous tracts of undeveloped land in Montauk.[5][6] An additional 77 acres (0.31 km2) of adjacent property was acquired in 2008, increasing the park's size to nearly 200 acres (0.8 km2).[7]
The property is owned jointly by New York State, the Town of East Hampton and Suffolk County.[3]
The park, located betweenShadmoor State Park and theNature Conservancy's Andy Warhol Preserve, is largely undeveloped and is maintained with the intention of preserving its value as natural habitat. It includes 1,288 feet (393 m) of ocean frontage, several ponds and 54 acres (220,000 m2) of tidal and freshwater wetlands.[6]
Woody vegetation at Amsterdam Beach consists mainly of shadbush (Amelanchier), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), and several species of holly (Ilex).[5][7] The land hosts several regionally threatened species, includingnorthern harriers,spotted turtles andCooper's hawks, and is additionally utilized by shorebirds and migratory bird species following theAtlantic Flyway.[3][5] A number ofamphibians, including the protectedblue-spotted salamander, have been observed at Amsterdam Beach.[5]
A network of trails was completed on the property in 2011.[7]
