Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn : NYC Tourist Guide

Sheepshead Bay

Sheepshead Bay is a bay separating the mainland of Brooklyn, New York City from the eastern portion of Coney Island, the latter originally a barrier island but now effectively an extension of the mainland with peninsulas both east (the neighborhood of Manhattan Beach) and west (the neighborhood of Sea Gate). Sheepshead Bay is located at 40°15'N, 72°57'W.

The bay itself was originally the easterly entrance to Coney Island Creek but filling of the central part of this waterway during the 1930s in conjunction with construction of the Shore Parkway portion of the Belt Parkway eliminated access to the creek. At the same time the bay was widened at its western end, deepened and bulkheaded. It is now the home of recreational fishing fleets. At the Western end of the bay, there is a Holocaust memorial park, which is used throughout the year for commemorative events.

In the last decade of the 20th century, a real estate boom brought the reopening of the landmark Lundy Brothers seafood restaurant, as well as the opening of Russian-themed restaurant/nightclubs such as Paradise and Baku Palace. The waterfront also experienced a growth of condominium developments. The northern shore of the bay contains piers with an active seafood market and tour boats.

Sheepshead Bay is named for the sheepshead, an edible fish once found in the bay's waters. According to local lore, Sheepshead Bay was named for its shape, which was thought to resemble the head of a sheep.

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