Lido, 880 Lido Boulevard; located by the Atlantic Ocean
516-571-7700
On-site staff: Yes

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NICKERSON BEACH, PART OF THE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM SINCE 1967, has undergone an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation and offers numerous activities in the park or on the beach. The renovation work has included construction of a beautiful family "Fun Zone" with a skate park, colorful basketball courts with fiberglass backboards, and a state-of-the-art playground that incorporates special attractions such as climbing apparatus and puzzles. The Fun Zone provides a seamless area that can accommodate children in a broad age range, so that moms and dads can watch a youngster in the playground while an older child goes to the nearby basketball court or skating park. In addition to the creation of the Fun Zone, other improvements included renovation of the popular cabana areas, new benches and grills, a new baseball field and repaved parking areas. For the 2008 season, nine new beach volleyball courts were added for leagues and individuals, with two adjacent picnic areas.

The park also offers all-terrain wheelchairs for the disabled, available by reservation.

The park includes areas by the beach that are cordoned off to protect piping plover nesting spots. The piping plover is a sparrow-sized shorebird that nests in beach areas and is protected by federal law.

During the summer season, parking fees are charged as follows:

• Daily: $8 for Leisure Pass holders and $20 for non-Leisure Pass holders.
• Season sticker: Leisure Pass holders, $80; seniors, disabled, volunteer firefighters, auxiliary police & veterans, $40 (Leisure Pass required); non-Leisure Pass holders, $200.

Nickerson Beach provides the ocean, summer cabanas, pools and lots of activites for tots and teens at the "Fun Zone"

John Runac of Long Island goes airborne at the Nickerson Beach skate park.

Athletics/Physical Activities:

• There are two new basketball courts in the "Fun Zone" and a basketball court by the cabana area;
• two tennis courts;
• and a new baseball field (permit required).
• The "Fun Zone" includes a skate park located inside a 160-by-100-foot fenced-in area. The skate park includes seven ramps of varying difficulty, with the lowest ones measuring two feet in height and the highest ones four feet. In addition, there are two railings for skate-boarders. During the summer season, the skate park is open seven days a week, but patrons are advised to call ahead for the schedule of hours. At other times of the year, excluding the winter, when the park is closed, the skate park is open only on weekends. Helmets must be worn by those using the skate park.

Family/Kids:

• A renovated “Fun Zone” playground area includes an adventure playground .
• There are unreserved and reserved (fee) picnic areas that include barbecue equipment and a campground. Leisure Pass and fee required for reserved areas; call 516-571-7701.

Swimming:

• There are two pools at either end of the park, along with small “kiddie” pools (fee required). The pools open for the 2009 summer season on June 20 through Labor Day.
• Visitors can also swim in the ocean.
• There are new beach showers and cabanas, with cabanas awarded via a lottery system (fee required).
• Seasonal hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. ; Sat.-Sun., holidays, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Campground:

• The Nickerson Beach campground has 74 sites for RVs and 12 for tents (available for Nassau County residents and guests only). Water, sewer and electrical hookup are available. Leisure Pass holders receive discount rate.

Cabanas:

• Nickerson Beach offers cabanas for rent during the summer season, with areas on the eastern and western ends of the park. The cabanas provide Nassau County residents with the opportunity to enjoy a summer vacation at this beautiful beach. Each year, a lottery is held to determine eligibility for available cabana spots. Scroll down to "News & Events" to learn more about how you can rent a cabana.

Dog run:

• A dog run includes separate areas for big and small dogs; it is located across the parking lot from the Fun Zone. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the beach or in any County parks or preserves, with the exception of the dog runs.

Food:

• "Nathan's at Nickerson" restaurant (870-4381) provides the popular lineup of foods offered by the famous Brooklyn-based institution, including hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken tenders, combo meals, beverages and French fries. The restaurant is located near the "Fun Zone" and after Labor Day will remain open on weekends through October.

Directions:

To reach Nickerson Beach Park from the North Shore, take Meadowbrook Parkway South to Loop Parkway (Exit M10) to Point Lookout. Turn right onto Lido Boulevard. Nassau Beach is about half-mile on your left-hand side. From the South Shore, take Southern State Parkway (East) to Meadowbrook Parkway (South) toward Jones Beach. Just before the Jones Beach Toll, go off onto the Loop Parkway (exit M10) toward Point Lookout. Take Loop Parkway all the way to the end. Turn right: Nickerson Beach Park is on the left-hand side about a half-mile away.

Registration for Nickerson Beach Park Cabana Lottery Opens March 9

Registration for the lottery for available cabana spaces at Nickerson Beach Park in Lido begins on Monday, March 9, and runs through April 24, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. Applications for the lottery are accepted weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (please call for weekend hours).

The cabanas are located on the eastern and western ends of the park and provide Nassau County residents with the opportunity to enjoy a summer vacation at this beautiful park on the Atlantic Ocean. Each year, a number of cabanas become available and are then opened up for rental via a lottery system, for Nassau County residents only.

To register, an applicant must come to the Nickerson Beach administration building to fill out an application and must pay a non-refundable $25 fee, which is not used toward the $2,100 fee for a cabana.

An applicant must have a valid driver’s license, an electric bill or current tax bill as additional proof of residency, and a Nassau County Leisure Pass, which is obtainable at the park at a cost of $25. Only one application may be submitted per family. The park does charge for parking during the summer season, and seasonal stickers can be obtained for either $40 or $80, for Leisure Pass holders.

The lottery drawing will be held on April 27 at 10 a.m., with the winners notified via telephone. For information, call 516-571-7700.

Campgrounds Offer One-Day Registration on February 7

A one-day, early-bird registration for Nassau County’s two campgrounds, Battle Row in Old Bethpage and Nickerson Beach in Lido, will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

Applications for reservations will be accepted on that one day at both locations from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The campgrounds are run by the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums.

To register, a camper must present a valid Leisure Passport and a copy of his/her vehicle registration and driver’s license. This year, Nickerson Beach is conducting a lottery to create a process that is both fairer and easier, eliminating the need for patrons to line up for hours (see rules below). In fact, as part of the new process, no one will be permitted to stay overnight at the park. Battle Row will continue to take registration on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Regular registration will begin on a daily basis in March at Nickerson Beach Campground and in April at Battle Row Campground. The camping season runs from April through November. For more information during the camping season, call Battle Row at 516-572-8690 and Nickerson Beach at 516-571-7724 (the general phone number for Nickerson Beach Park is 516-571-7700).

Battle Row Campground, located on Claremont Road in Old Bethpage, offers a wooded and quiet 44-acre site. Nickerson Beach Campground, located on Lido Boulevard in Lido, provides camping along a beautiful beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The 121-acre park offers additional activities, including basketball and a state-of-the-art playground.