Labyrinth Complete on Shore Front

A labyrinth looms in Rockaway Beach. The new walking path and meditative space is now open.

From Beach 94th to Beach 92nd on Shore Front Parkway, you may come across a specially designed walking path. This labyrinth came from local resident Nancy Gahles, who had been advocating for such a space since 9/11 rocked New York and devasted the community.

What exactly is a labyrinth? According to Binghamton University, “A labyrinth is used for walking meditation. It is a single winding path from the outer edge in a circuitous way to the center. Labyrinths are used world-wide as a way to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity and encourage meditation, insight, self-reflection and stress reduction.”

Construction began on this $2.4M project in the fall of 2021 and is now ready for use. An official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 6—World Labyrinth Day.