Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums

It gives me great pleasure to lead a department that plays such a significant role in the health and enjoyment of Nassau County residents. As a competitive triathlete and multi-sport enthusiast, I have been an avid user of County parks for years. As a high school educator, I have been in a position to emphasize to middle school and high school students the importance of maintaining an active and healthful lifestyle.

When I was asked in early 2006 to take over as Commissioner of Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums, my decision was simple: I jumped at the opportunity to preside over a network of properties that range from large, bustling parks to tranquil preserves with hiking trails to museums that provide a window into the beauty and history of Long Island.

I am fortunate in that I am taking over a department with a great deal of positive momentum and energy. In 2005, County Executive Suozzi presided over an ambitious and capital-intensive effort to turn around years of neglect at our parks and begin the process of regeneration. In total, we spent $13 million on this effort. The result is that our athletic fields and courts are now in better condition than they have been in for years, our programming is more ambitious, our parks and preserves look better, and all of us in the department are determined to continue building upon the improvements that have been made. We have also arranged exciting partnerships with museums such as Cradle of Aviation, Children’s and Fine Arts.

The properties within the County’s parks system offer an incredible array of experiences. You can spend a day at Old Bethpage Village Restoration and lose yourself in a unique replica of a 19th-century Long Island village. At the Nassau County Aquatic Center in Eisenhower Park, you can swim in the same magnificent pool that in early 2006 played host to Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and hundred of other world-class swimmers, or enjoy a workout and great views in our modern fitness center located above the pool.

During the summer, you can choose from among six outdoor pools for an afternoon of family fun, catch a movie or concert under the stars at Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park, or consider the grandeur of the historic Sands Point Preserve in Port Washington. There are fields for baseball, soccer, football and many other sports; courts for basketball, handball and tennis; picnic areas for family and group outings; golf courses and driving ranges for the skilled amateur or beginner; and ocean- and water-front properties for relaxing and swimming.

I encourage all of the County’s residents to enjoy as many of the activities offered by our Parks system as possible.

Parks, Recreation and Museums

Jose L. Lopez became Commissioner of Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums in March 2006, a position to which he brings extensive experience in education, recreation and special events planning and management. Prior to taking over as Commissioner, Lopez had been chairman of the Physical Education Department at Great Neck South High School. In 1997, he was named New York State AHPERD Middle/Junior High Scool Physical Education Teacher of the Year (Nassau Zone). A competitive athlete himself, Lopez has completed several ironman-distance events and was named Triathlete All Amercan in 2004. As an events planner, he has organized dozens of multi-sport and road race events on Long Island. Lopez has also been involved in numerous charitable causes, including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training program and the U.S. Paralympics. Lopez has a B.S. from Queens College and an M.S. from Lehman College, both of the City University of New York.