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Christopher Morley Park
Roslyn-North Hills, Searingtown Road, north of Long Island Expressway
516-571-8113
On-site staff: Yes
Christopher Morley Park, set on 98 acres and centrally located in the northern part of the county, has been in the Nassau County park system since 1961. The County paid $704,000 for the property, which was the former estate of Nettie Ryan. The park is named after Christopher Morley, one of the foremost American “men of letters” in the 20th century, a prolific writer who produced more than 50 books, including several popular novels, plays, poetry and essays. He also edited two volumes of “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations” and was a founder of the Book of the Month Club.
A great deal of Morley's work was done in a functional one-room studio called the “Knothole” (see fuller description in the list below), located on his property in Roslyn on the North Shore and constructed in 1934. “I built myself a pine-wood cabin, as aloofly as a Long Island suburb would permit, to consort with the shade of John Bartlett,” wrote Morley.
In 1966, nine years after Morley’s death, the writer’s friends and neighbors had the Knothole transferred to one of Nassau County’s parks in Roslyn-North Hills, subsequently named Christopher Morley Park. The Knothole, renovated in 2006, includes built-in bookshelves, a fireplace and a bunkbed. But the public has been most intrigued over the years by the Knothole’s “dymaxion” bathroom, which was designed in 1936 by Morley’s friend, Buckminster Fuller, the renowned scientist and inventor. It is a one-piece, pre-assembled unit.
The park provides numerous opportunities for recreation:
Athletics:
- There are five tennis courts (fee and Leisure Pass required);
- four lighted handball/paddleball courts;
- four basketball courts;
- and two paddle-tennis courts.
- Athletic fields include three baseball fields (softball and hardball, including Little League) and volleyball courts.
Family/Kids:
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| The beautiful playground at Christopher Morley provides a variety of activities. |
- A playground provides a variety of activities, including a nontraditional climbing apparatus.
- Hobby enthusiasts can enjoy the 140- by 300-foot boat basin designed for model boats.
- There are unreserved and reserved (fee) picnic areas, which include barbecue equipment. Leisure Pass and fee required for reserved areas; call 516-571-8113.
Golf:
Fitness Trail:
- In the summer of 2007, the park introduced a one-mile Fitness Trail that provides a jogging or walking trail and 20 attractive and simple fitness stations incorporating 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 begins on the north side of the park entrance by Searington Road, heads east past the Dog Run and the woods before working its way past the baseball fields and playground and ending by the parking area overlooking the pond.
- The park is also adding a flat quarter-mile warm-up, cool-down trail; a half-mile flat trail; a half-mile hill trail; and a one-mile hill trail.
Ice Skating:
- Christopher Morley’s outdoor ice skating rink, a community fixture since 1966, was named by News 12 Long Island viewers as the best outdoor skating rink on Long Island. The facility, which is 200-feet by 80-feet, is used by recreational skaters and hockey teams. Group and private lessons are available; skate rentals are also available. The rink is scheduled to open November 30, weather permitting, and remains open through mid-March. The rink offers three two-hour day sessions seven days a week beginning at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m., and one two-hour session evenings on Friday and Saturday beginning at 8:30 p.m. and Thursday at 6:45 p.m. Call 571-8123 for skating information. The skating rink closed for the season as of March 2, 2008.
- Rink hours are as follows: three two-hour day sessions seven days a week beginning at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m.; one two-hour session evenings on Friday and Saturday beginning at 8:30 p.m. and Thursday and Sunday at 6:45 p.m. Skating fees range from $3 to $12, depending upon the age of the patron and whether or not one is a Leisure Passport holder and county resident.
Swimming:
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| The pool is a popular summer destination. |
- The swimming pool complex (Leisure Pass and fee required) includes an Olympic-sized pool, diving tank with boards, and a “kiddie” pool. Lockers and showers are available. Pool is open from June 22 through Labor Day.
- Hours: Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Fees (daily): resident adult, $5; resident child (4-17 years of age), $3; senior, disabled, vol. firefighter, ambulance corps auxiliary police, veterans, $2.50; non-resident adult guest, $14, non-resident child guest, $10. A Leisure Pass is required for residents to receive the resident rate.
Dog run:
- A dog run is located on the north side of the parking lot by the Christopher Morley "Knothole." Please note that dogs are not allowed in any County parks or preserves, with the exception of the dog runs.
Other Activities:
- The park features 30 acres of peaceful and beautiful wooded nature trails that provide an ideal area for a leisurely stroll or jogging.
- There are courts for horseshoes and shuffleboard.
Christopher Morley "Knothole":
The Christopher Morley “Knothole” is a tiny one-room wooden cabin formerly used as a studio by prominent 20th-century Long Island editor and writer Morley (who authored such novels as “Thunder on the Left” and “Kitty Foyle”); it was later transported to the park. The facility is located by the dog run, and is open occasionally for public programs.
Constructed in 1934, the Knothole includes built-in bookshelves, a fireplace and a bunkbed. But the public has been most intrigued over the years by the Knothole’s “dymaxion” bathroom, which was designed in 1936 by Morley’s friend, Buckminster Fuller, the renowned scientist and inventor. It is a one-piece, pre-assembled unit.
In 2006, the County completed renovation work on the Knothole, which involved replacing damaged siding, a task that required creating new siding to replicate the thick and irregularly shaped “wavy”-edge style of the original; adding a new roof and flashings; rebuilding windows and sills; and rebuilding the porch. In addition, a new handicapped-accessible ramp was installed.
Viewing doors will also be installed so that the public can see the interior of the studio and bathroom. “Morley embraced the language and had an incredible vocabulary, even by the standards of the 1920s, when people who went to college received broad educations,” says Harrison Hunt, Supervisor of Historic Sites for the Nassau County Department of Parks. “I actually need a dictionary out for virtually every page when I read his essays because on each page there will be some great word which has fallen into disuse.”
Directions:
To reach Christopher Morley Park, take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 36/Searingtown Road exit (from east or west). Take Searingtown Road North and look for the park entrance on right (about 200 yards from the LIE).
Nassau County Outdoor Skating Rinks Open November 30
NOTE: The outdoor skating rinks closed for the season as of March 2, 2008.
The outdoor skating rinks at Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills and Grant Park in Hewlett are scheduled to open on Friday, November 30, weather permitting, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. The rinks, part of the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, are open seven days a week through mid-March.
The Christopher Morley rink offers three two-hour day sessions seven days a week beginning at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m., and one two-hour session evenings on Friday and Saturday beginning at 8:30 p.m. and Thursday and Sunday at 6:45 p.m. Christopher Morley is a hilly, tree-lined 98-acre park located on Searingtown Road (Exit 36 north of the L.I.E). In addition to the rink, the park includes a large, modern playground; basketball, handball and tennis courts; baseball fields; a nine-hole golf course; heavily wooded nature trails; and a basin for model-boat enthusiasts. For information, call 516-571-8123.
The Grant Park rink offers three two-hour day sessions seven days a week beginning at 10 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and one two-hour session evenings on Friday beginning at 8:30 p.m. Grant is a beautiful 35-acre park nestled in a residential area by Broadway and Sheridan Avenue. In addition to the ice skating rink, there is a large, modern playground; basketball, tennis and handball courts; baseball fields; and fishing in the park lake. For information, call 516-571-7821.
At both parks, group and private skating lessons are available, as well as ice charters for groups, hockey games and private rentals. Patrons may also rent skates. Skating fees range from $3 to $12, depending upon the age of the patron and whether or not one is a Leisure Passport holder and county resident.
Reservations for Picnic Areas Available Beginning February 4
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced that picnic reservations for the coming season may be made at Nassau County parks beginning Monday, February 4, 2008. Reservations may be made from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week (except where otherwise indicated) at 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 make catering 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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