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Eisenhower Park
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The large and beautiful Veterans Memorial honors Americans who have served the country in war.
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East Meadow, Merrick and Stewart avenues
Phone: 516-572-0348
Golf Course: 516-572-0327
On Site Staff:Yes
Click here for Google map
Click for map of Eisenhower Park
NEWS BRIEF: Beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, non-Nassau County residents will be charged a $10 parking fee on weekends.
A 930-ACRE OASIS OF OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION in the heart of Nassau County, Eisenhower Park is one of the largest public spaces in the New York metropolitan area – larger, in fact, than Central Park.
The park offers a full range of athletic and family activities, including one of the finest swimming facilities in the U.S., a major golf facility, dozens of athletic fields and courts, picnic areas, summertime entertainment, playgrounds, fitness trails and more.
Eisenhower Park consists of the former property owned by the exclusive Salisbury Country Club as well as adjoining properties acquired by the county. In the 1920s, when sports stars became national celebrities, the club drew some of the nation's top golfers and tournaments, including Walter Hagan, who won the 1926 PGA Championship at Salisbury.
During the Depression, the owners were unable to pay taxes and the property was taken over by the county. Subsequently, the county acquired additional land in the area. In 1944, Nassau County Park at Salisbury was established as part of County Executive J. Russell Sprague's vision to create a park that "one day will be to Nassau County what Central Park is today to New York City." The park was officially dedicated in October of 1949.
The park was rededicated on October 13, 1969, as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Park at a ceremony attended by the 34th President's grandson, Dwight D. Eisenhower II, and his wife, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.
The following activities are available at the park:
Athletics/Physical Activities:
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| The Nassau County Aquatic Center is one of the finest indoor swimming facilities in the U.S., playing host to County residents as well as competitive events featuring some of the world's top swimmers. |
- There are 16 lighted tennis courts, near Parking Field No. 2 or No. 4 (an hourly seasonal fee is charged). For information during summer, call 572-0346.
- Athletic fields, several lighted for night play, include 17 baseball fields (14 for softball and three for hardball), four soccer fields and three football fields.
- There is one full-court basketball court, outfitted with new fiberglass backboards, located on the Hempstead Turnpike side of the park.
- There is also a batting cage with nine separate batting areas offering varying pitching speeds for baseball or a softball option. Baseball speeds as follows: fast,
80-85 mph; medium, 60-65 mph; and
slow, 40-45 mph.
Fee: $3 for 25 pitches for Leisure Pass holders; $5 for non-Leisure Pass holders.
In the event of rain, please call to ensure the cage is open.
Hours: Mini Golf: Mon. - Thurs. - 1 pm - 6 pm
Friday - 1 pm - 7 pm; Sat. & Sun. - 10 am - 7 pm
Batting Cage: Mon. - Thurs. - 1 pm - 6:30 pm
Friday - 1 pm - 7 pm; Sat. & Sun. - 10 am - 7:30 pm
Information: 516-572-0407.
Fitness Trail:
- In the summer of 2007, the park introduced a two-mile Fitness Trail that provides a jogging or walking trail and 20 attractive and simple fitness stations that incorporate a variety of exercises. These include stretching, pull-ups, sit-ups and balance walking exercises that increase slightly in difficulty as the trail proceeds. The trail is on the west side of Park Boulevard bisecting the park, with the first station located near the field house and playground by Parking Field No. 2 (near Hempstead Turnpike). From there, the trail winds north past the Aquatic Center and Lakeside Theatre and then heads south back toward the starting point.
Golf:
- Eisenhower features three excellent 18-hole golf courses open to the public: the Red, White and Blue courses. The Red course, which hosted the Commerce Bank (PGA) Championship, has been called by Newsday one of the "Top 10" public golf courses on Long Island. Call 572-0327/0328 (Leisure Pass and fee required).
- In addition, the park has an illuminated driving range; call 572-0336.
Family/Kids:
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| A youngster enjoys the climbing apparatus at the newly renovated main playground area. |
- An 18-hole miniature golf course near the Nassau County Aquatic Center is a popular attraction for children and families.
The course, which has been named "Best of Long Island" by News 12 Long Island, features two 18-hole courses (“Mountainside” and “Overlook”) with terraced landscaping that incorporates a waterfall, small ponds, flower beds and a number of challenging holes.
Fees: Leisure Pass holders, $7 for those 13 years of age and older, $4 for seniors with Leisure Pass; non-Leisure Pass holders, $10; $4 for all children (under 13 years of age).
In the event of rain, please call to ensure the course is open.
Hours: Starting at the end of June, hours of operation are 10 am - 9 pm daily. Please call for spring hours.
Information: 516-572-0407.
Swimming:
- Built in 1998 for the Goodwill Games, the Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park is one of the finest swimming facilities in the U.S. It regularly hosts major swimming competitions and is also open to the public (Leisure Pass and fee required). The center offers a full menu of swimming lessons for toddlers, youngsters and teens. The Center includes a “stretch” 50-meter pool that is 68 meters long, with three movable bulkheads. There is also a 25-meter diving well with competition diving towers, platforms and springboards. In addition, there is a beautifully renovated fitness center, located above the pool (Leisure Pass and fee required). Call 572-0501 for information.
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The annual Fourth of July celebration at
Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.
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Entertainment:
- The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre is an outdoor theater that hosts a full schedule of entertainment events during the summer, from concerts to movies.
Memorials:
- The large and beautiful Veterans Memorial and Wall of Honor commemorates the contributions of the nation’s veterans in various branches of service.
- On September 9, 2007, the County unveiled the 9/11 Memorial honoring the 344 Nassau County residents who lost their lives during the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. The monument, one of the largest completed memorials to the victims of the 9/11 attacks, is located by Eisenhower Park Lake, near Lakeside Theatre. The monument includes two stainless-steel towers set in a fountain as well as two steel girders recovered from the World Trade Center; plaques memorialize the names of County residents who lost their lives (see story below).
- There are two memorials to Nassau County firefighters who have died in the line of duty, including one dedicated to those county firefighters who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The memorials are located by the Veterans Memorial near Park Boulevard.
Other Activities:
- There is a jogging path that begins on the Hempstead Turnpike side, near Parking Field No. 2 (starting in front of the field house building).
- In the gaming area next to the playground, there is a bocci court and tables with inlaid chess and checker boards. A shelter with benches and tables is also available for those who wish to play cards and other similar games.
- The Mid Island Dahlia Society operates in the park between June and October every Sunday from 9-11 am, in the area just behind the Parks Department Administration Building near the Hempstead Turnpike entrance to the park. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Nassau County also has offices in the same area by the greenhouse.
- When it snows, children and parents head with their sleds to the appropriately named "Sled Hill," located by Parking Field No. 1 near Safety Town. Newsday has included Sled Hill among its "Top Sledding Spots" on Long Island (see article below). While noting that the small hill at Eisenhower Park did not make for a “thrill ride,” Newsday said, “But if you’ve got young children and want an ideal family atmosphere for your fun in the snow, this is where to go. Sled Hill in Eisenhower Park is wide and long, with a gentle grade.”
Dining:
- Eisenhower is home to Carltun on the Park restaurant, a privately run facility operated in a former country club. The Carltun offers a restaurant, bar, banquet facilities and a meeting room. The restaurant has played host to numerous events, including a fundraiser in 2004 for President George Bush. Call 542-0700 for information.
Directions:
Take Meadowbrook Parkway North to Exit M3 East/Stewart Avenue. Make a right onto Stewart Avenue and take this until you reach the park.
Or,
Take Meadowbrook Parkway South to Exit M3/Stewart Avenue. Make a left onto Stewart Avenue and take this until you reach the park.
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Craft & Gift Show at Eisenhower Park Field 8. 10 am - 6 pm; June 8 - 9
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced that the County Parks’ International Music Nights Concert Series will kick off this year on Sunday, June 2nd at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park. The International Music Nights Concert Series provides residents an opportunity to experience the broad range of cultures that Nassau County has to offer.
Eisenhower Park Opens Renovated Batting Cage
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| The newly renovated batting cage features nine individual stalls for baseball and softball. |
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announces that the renovated batting cage at Eisenhower Park has opened for the 2013 season. During the off-season, the County installed entirely new pitching machines, new netting, and a new pulley system to raise and lower netting during inclement weather.
“The batting cage at Eisenhower Park is one of the largest and most conveniently located in Nassau County, but unfortunately it suffered from a lack of investment over the years, like many aspects of our parks,” says Mangano. “As part of my comprehensive effort to improve our parks, we made a targeted investment in the Eisenhower facility to ensure that it is modern, reliable and worthy of our residents.”
The batting cage includes nine individual stalls with three different speeds for baseball or softball. For baseball, speeds range from 40-45 mph, 60-65 mph and 80-85 mph.
Since the system is “self-feeding” and the balls are collected automatically, patrons don’t need to waste time and energy collecting them and filling boxes or feeding a pitching machine, as is the case at some indoor facilities. The fee for the cage is $3 for 25 pitches for Leisure Pass holders and $5 for non-Leisure Pass holders.
The batting cage is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours during the summer. For more information, call 572-0407.
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County Parks Begin Accepting Picnic Reservations in February
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announces that picnic reservations for the coming season may be made at Nassau County parks beginning in February. Reservations can be made for the following parks:
Reservations must be made in person at park locations, and a valid Leisure Pass and appropriate payment (fees depend upon group size) must be presented to obtain a confirmed reservation. Payment can be made by cash, check (made out to “Treasurer of Nassau County”) or credit card (at some locations). “Rain-or-shine” shelter areas are available at Cedar Creek Park, Rev. Arthur Mackey Sr. Park, Nickerson Beach Park and Wantagh Park.
County regulations require that 75% of all picnic participants be Nassau County residents. A special permit is required for the use of alcoholic beverages, and this permit must be purchased at least one week in advance of any reserved or unreserved picnic. To makecatering arrangements, patrons must contact the park concessionaire, Dover Caterers, at 516-933-4444, ext. 12 or 16. Picnic reservations must be secured from the individual park before catering can be arranged.
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In Survey, Long Island Press Touts Two County Parks Among Top Three,
Eisenhower Golf No. 2 Among Public Courses
The Long Island Press has named Eisenhower Park and Wantagh Park among its top three parks on Long Island and the Eisenhower Park golf facility as No. 2 among public golf courses, announced Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. The rankings were provided by the weekly newspaper in its “Best of L.I.” survey for 2010, published in January. The comprehensive annual survey covers 215 categories and is based on voting by tens of thousands of the newspaper’s readers.
For Eisenhower Park, the second-place finish comes on the heels of being selected for the top spot in 2009. Wantagh Park placed right behind Eisenhower at No. 3 among Long Island’s best parks. In designating Jones Beach Park No. 1, the Long Island Press acknowledged the difficulty of selecting a top finisher. “There are so many great parks on Long Island that it’s really hard to pick the best one,” the newspaper said. “So let’s just consider this list the best of the best.”
Centrally located in East Meadow off Merrick Avenue and larger than Central Park, 930-acre Eisenhower Park (516-572-0347) is the flagship of the Nassau County parks system. The park offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including a swimming pool and fitness center at the world-class Nassau County Aquatic Center (571-0501); mini-golf; a batting cage; athletic fields; playgrounds; a 2-mile fitness trail; basketball and tennis courts; bocci and lawn bowling; and the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. In addition, the park includes large and beautiful memorials to the nation’s veterans and victims of the 9/11 attacks.
There’s also the Eisenhower Park golf facility, one of the metropolitan area’s busiest courses and selected second-best in the Long Island Press survey of public golf courses. Golf at Eisenhower consists of three 18-hole courses –including the championship Red and White courses, along with the Blue course – as well as a driving range with 60 bays. During the winter, the White and Blue courses (572-0327/28) are open as weather allows, along with the driving range (572-0336).
Wantagh Park (571-7460), located off the Wantagh Parkway by Merrick Road, is one of the most scenic spots on the South Shore, offering 111 acres on beautiful East Bay. The park provides numerous opportunities for recreation, including ball fields and athletic courts, a layground, picnic areas, a two-mile fitness trail, a marina, and a fishing pier. During summer, Wantagh’s spectacular water theme park (previously named “Best Public Pool” by the Long Island Press) has an Olympic-sized main pool, a diving pool, a “kiddie” pool, training pool, an interactive water-play area and two 30-foot waterslides.
“It’s very heartening to see so many of our facilities chosen by the readers of the Long Island Press as their favorites,” says Mangano. “I am a big proponent of parks and the positive impact they have on the lives of our residents and communities, and my administration is committed to ensuring that our parks system provides residents with excellent recreational opportunities in the most efficient manner possible.”
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Long Island Press Calls Eisenhower Park Tops on Long Island
The Long Island Press has named Eisenhower Park the top park on Long Island in its annual “Best of L.I.” survey. The “Best of L.I.” survey, published in the January 15-21, 2009 issue, covers dozens of categories, from restaurants to doctors.
The weekly also cited the Eisenhower golf course and driving range among its “Best of L.I.” picks in those categories.
In naming Eisenhower Park Long Island’s best park, the Long Island Press noted the “stiff competition” from Jones Beach Park and Bethpage State Park. “But Eisenhower takes the best parts of both runner ups – the various fields at Jones Beach and the golf course at Bethpage – and combines them, then adds lush greeneries to complete the scene,” the newspaper said.
Centrally located in East Meadow off Merrick Avenue and larger than Central Park, 930-acre Eisenhower Park is the flagship of the Nassau County Parks system.
The park offers an extraordinary variety of recreational opportunities, including a swimming pool and fitness center at the world-class Nassau County Aquatic Center; three 18-hole golf courses, a driving range and mini-golf; a batting cage; athletic fields; playgrounds; a 2-mile fitness trail; basketball and tennis courts; bocci and lawn bowling; and the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. In addition, the park includes large and beautiful memorials to the nation’s veterans and victims of the 9/11 attacks.
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| Newsday referred to the "ideal family atmosphere" of Eisenhower Park's Sled Hill in naming it a top sledding location. |
Newsday Touts Eisenhower Park Among "Top Sledding Spots"
As the snow fell on January 15, 2009, and Newsday hit Long Islander’s front doorsteps, the newspaper contained a timely article on “LI’s Top Sledding Spots” in which it singled out Eisenhower Park as particularly appropriate for very young children.
While noting that the small hill at Eisenhower Park did not make for a “thrill ride,” Newsday said, “But if you’ve got young children and want an ideal family atmosphere for your fun in the snow, this is where to go. Sled Hill in Eisenhower Park is wide and long, with a gentle grade.”
Sled Hill is located by Parking Field No. 1 in the vicinity of Safety Town, off Merrick Avenue.
Newsday also mentioned Cedar Creek Park in Seaford (516-571-7470), where the steep hills are a perennial favorite among youngsters, and Grant Park in Hewlett (516-571-7821), where children use the hill behind the baseball field.
Although Newsday mentioned Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills (516-571-8113), the Parks Department does not encourage sledding on the hill there because of the presence of plantings and the boat basin below.
Eisenhower Park, the 930-acre flagship of the Nassau County Parks system, is centrally located in East Meadow and offers a number of opportunities to stay active in the winter, including the world-class pool and fitness center at the Nassau County Aquatic Center; two 18-hole golf courses (open as weather permits) and a large driving range; and a 2-mile Fitness Trail. For more information about Eisenhower Park, call 572-0347.
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Nassau County Unveils Nassau County’s 9/11 Memorial in Eisenhower Park Honoring Residents Who Died in 9/11 Attacks
Marking the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Nassau County unveiled a $2 million memorial — the largest in the nation to date — honoring the 344 Nassau County residents who lost their lives on that day.
The unveiling ceremony was held at Eisenhower Park's Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, across from the memorial, on September 9. On March 11, 2003, President Bush – along with then-Gov. George Pataki and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani – helped break ground for the memorial.
The memorial features a wall with the names of the 344 Nassau residents who died in the World Trade Center and on Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Several Nassau communities suffered a particularly large number of deaths that day: Rockville Centre lost more than 20 people, Garden City, 19, Manhasset, 17, and Valley Stream, 14 residents.
“This memorial could not have been built without the commitment and dedication of all involved,” said Janet Wexler-Magee, a Nassau County resident whose husband, Charles Magee, died in the World Trade Center’s North Tower, where he worked on the 88th floor. Magee also served as a board member of the Nassau County Memorial Foundation. “I hope that everyone who lost someone on September 11, 2001 will find comfort in this memorial,” she said.
Nearly five years ago, the Nassau County 9/11 Memorial Foundation was created to fund raise and oversee construction of the memorial. A design contest was held to find the winning design. Since then, the foundation has received financial support from the County and from hundreds of local residents and businesses. In addition, over 500 union members from Long Island’s building trades volunteered thousands of hours of labor to help build this memorial.
The members of the building and construction trades unions and their signatory contractors, who volunteered their time, materials and expertise, have a personal commitment to this memorial and community,” said Bobby Bonanza, president of Laborers' Local 66 and board member of the Nassau County Memorial Foundation. “Many of the members of our unions live and work in Nassau County, and each was affected in their own way by the events of 9/11. The 344 Nassau County residents killed on that tragic day were part of our family and community. The engineers, electricians, lathers, carpenters and laborers who labored to see this fitting memorial built are proud of their contribution. We will always remember.”
The memorial features two semi-transparent stainless-steel towers, representing the World Trade Center towers, rising 30 feet from a fountain, and also contains two pieces of steel from the World Trade Center's wreckage. The program for the unveiling consisted of various performances from children who lost parents on September 11, the reciting of the 344
names that are part of the Memorial.
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