Deja Views: A look back to the Kew boathouse in 1932
By DAVID VAN DYKE
The photograph above was taken in the summer of 1932.
It depicts the once magnificent Kew Beach Park Boathouse, located close to the shore between Kew Gardens and the Leuty Lifeguard Station.
Today, this former glorious structure is gutted and used primarily for people with yoga mats and Beachers seeking temporary shelter from the rain. Alas, I should be happy that they didn’t just tear the whole thing down.
Do you have any old photographs of Kew Gardens, the Boathouse or Leuty Lifeguard Station you’d like to share with our readers? Please contact me gdvandyke61@gmail.com
Hi! Jackson here again. Message # 2
A police officer informed the “owner” of the boathouse “encampment” to vacate.
He complied.
It took a few weekdays before the area was entirely free from debris.
Post clean-up we enjoyed a “restored-to-normal” respite from his stressful presence.
After that ONE DAY he returned.
Saturday night (8/15/26) a picnic table crammed with recognizable belongings was noticed
on the north side of Kew Boathouse.
Thank you for paying attention to my concern.
There are a variety of vulnerable populations participating in organized activities inside the Kew Boathouse during the summer months.
There is a picnic table, immediately south east of the Boathouse, piled up with culinary, sleeping, and lounging accoutrements.
Several men drop-in freely to visit said domicile and its “owner”.
Initiate the removal of the entire structure on an immediate basis.