Filed Under: Environmental Issues | Long Island | Nassau | Open Space | Air | Open Space

Eisenhower Park

Nassau County has virtually no open space left. Therefore, its parks and beaches are the primary outdoor recreation areas for county residents.

With Nassau County almost entirely developed, time is running out to protect the patches surrounding groundwater protection areas since Nassau draws all its water from an underground sole source aquifer.

The high cost of land in Nassau County makes it difficult to purchase and protect open spaces. In 2001 the County established the Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee (OSPAC). The committee makes recommendations to the County Legislature regarding potential land purchases. Various bond measures have been passed in recent years to provide money for land purchase. North Hempstead and Oyster Bay approved open-space bond measures in 2000 generating $15 million and $30 million respectively. In 2004 Oyster Bay passed another $30 million bond and voters approved a $50 million county-wide bond act. The 2004 Nassau County Clean Water, Open Space and Park Improvements Bond will be dedicated to improving Nassau County's water resources, preserving open spaces (including the last remaining farms), improving park facilities and cleaning up brownfield sites. It will cost about $7 annually for the average county household. An Environmental Program Advisory Committee has been established to hold public hearings on how the $50 million should be spent. The Committee will make recommendations to the County Executive and Legislature on projects to be funded. Open space proposals will also be considered by OSPAC and the Nassau County Planning Commission.

Golfing in Nassau

Nassau County’s park system currently encompasses roughly 4,150 acres across 30 properties. Eisenhower Park is the largest park in the system at 930 acres, followed by Muttontown Park and Preserve at 550 acres and Cedar Creek Park at 259 acres. The County also has five golf courses, two 18-hole courses in Eisenhower Park and three 9-hole courses.  Money spent on parks - which include nature preserves, museums and historic properties - accounts for 3% of the county's budget.  Sands ParkParks advocates argue that more is needed, including a doubling of staff.

In early 2005 the County unveiled a $36 million plan to fix up the county’s parks. The plan calls for renovating 43 tennis courts, 20 basketball courts, 30 baseball fields and 74 bathrooms. Workers also are planning to install 256 picnic tables and 207 barbecue grills, plus trash cans and benches. The plan also calls for getting rid of invasive species that are killing off native plants. Workers will plant native grasses and other indigenous plants.

The county is also considering transferring control of smaller parks to the local towns and villages as a way to concentrate efforts and funds on larger, regional recreation facilities. If the local governments agree to take on the parks, they will probably negotiate for something in return, such as equipment or land from the county.

Also planned is reform of the Parks Department. Five regional directors will oversee the facilities in five newly created regions. Eisenhower Park will have its own director. Responsibilities at the other facilities will be divided among 18 managers.

The County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums has a website at http://www.co.nassau.ny.us/parks.html