Closer Than You Think: Things to do at Floyd Bennett Field

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Floyd Bennett Field was New York City's first municipal airport.  It later turned into a naval base. Now it is a park. It's named after Floyd Bennett, a Brooklyn resident and famous aviator.

The area was created by pumping 6 million cubic yards of sand from Jamaica Bay and filling in tiny islands to the mainland. The visitor center greets you when you arrive. The art deco beauty is under restoration.

Exhibits help educate the public on the field's rich history. There is also a camp store and outdoor showers because camping is one of the most popular activities. And you can do it all year long. You can also bring your RV.

Amelia Earhart broke records at this field. A historic hangar, called Hanger B, that holds vintage renovated planes and helicopters is a must see. It is open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Kayaking is big in these parts. And if you don't have a kayak or don't know how to kayak, park rangers have summer events for beginners.

If you want to get your sports on, Aviation Sports and Events Center is the place to go. It has a 15,000-square-foot gymnastics center, two sheets of NHL-sized ice, indoor turf and courts, outdoor fields, a picnic area, and summer camps.

The food court here is one of the only places to grab a bite but luckily it has a lot of variety.

In the mood for a little swimming? Just pop over to the beach at Jacob Riis Park. It is just 2 minutes away.