Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Massapequa Preserve
(Massapequa Park)

To most people, Massapequa Park is an incorporated village along Sunrise Highway. But the suburban community was named after the 423-acre greenbelt park that predated it. (The word Massapequa is actually a very old Native word that predates European settlement.) The park runs for almost four miles from Massapequa up to South Farmingdale. The park is notable for possessing the largest freshwater wetland system in Nassau County’s park system. Along with six lakes, it boasts a nearly 5-mile portion of two long-distance trails: the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail and the Bethpage Bikeway (both described separately).

Its lakes provide a wonderful diversity of wildlife. The largest, Massapequa Lake (between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway) is the place to see graceful mute swans, Canada geese and mallard ducks. The next lake to the north is Massapequa Reservoir (between Sunrise Highway and Clark Blvd.) is a good place in winter to see less common water birds such as northern shoveler, gadwall, hooded merganser, as well as other waterfowl and over wintering shorebirds. The blazed trail (described in detail under the Nassau-Suffolk Trail further ahead) takes you past all of the mentioned ponds.

The third pond (unnamed) is just north of Clark Blvd. It is the wildest and most secluded and so provides the best birding. It is one of Long Island’s best winter sites to see the uncommon green-winged teal and American widgeon. Winter shorebirds include long-billed dowitcher, common snipe, and yellowlegs. In summer, glossy ibis, blue-winged teal, sandpipers and lesser yellowlegs can be spotted.

Massapequa Park is a Nassau County Park from Merrick Road to Linden Street, just south of Southern State Parkway. The park is open dawn to dusk. For information, contact the Nassau County Department of Recreation & Parks, (516) 785-2803 or 571-7443.

How to Get There: To reach the park’s south end, take Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to its south terminus. Take Merrick Road east for 1.25 mile and turn left on Ocean Avenue. Park immediately and enter the park on your right. Here you encounter the white-blazed Greenbelt Trail along the lake. Turn left and always follow its white blazes as you head north along the trail through the park. For details on the trail directions, see the following section on the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail.

You can also park at the park’s northern end. To reach it from Merrick Road, continue east from Ocean Avenue, passing the park on your left. The next left is Lake Shore Road. Turn left on it and follow it 2.5 miles to Walker Street. Turn left on Walker Street where it ends inside the park at a parking lot. From the northwest corner of the parking lot, follow the trail. It crosses the paved Bethpage Bikeway, then a bridge over the stream, where it meets the Greenbelt Trail.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Massapequa Preserve (Massapequa Park) To most people, Massapequa Park is an incorporated village along Sunrise Highway. But the suburban community was named after the 423-acre greenbelt park that predated it. (The word Massapequa is actually a very old Native word that predates European settlement.) The park runs for almost four miles from Massapequa up to South Farmingdale. The park is notable for possessing the largest freshwater wetland system in Nassau County’s park system. Along with six lakes, it boasts a nearly 5-mile portion of two long-distance trails: the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail and the Bethpage Bikeway (both described separately). Its lakes provide a wonderful diversity of wildlife. The largest, Massapequa Lake (between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway) is the place to see graceful mute swans, Canada geese and mallard ducks. The next lake to the north is Massapequa Reservoir (between Sunrise Highway and Clark Blvd.) is a good place in winter to see less common water birds such as northern shoveler, gadwall, hooded merganser, as well as other waterfowl and over wintering shorebirds. The blazed trail (described in detail under the Nassau-Suffolk Trail further ahead) takes you past all of the mentioned ponds. The third pond (unnamed) is just north of Clark Blvd. It is the wildest and most secluded and so provides the best birding. It is one of Long Island’s best winter sites to see the uncommon green-winged teal and American widgeon. Winter shorebirds include long-billed dowitcher, common snipe, and yellowlegs. In summer, glossy ibis, blue-winged teal, sandpipers and lesser yellowlegs can be spotted. Massapequa Park is a Nassau County Park from Merrick Road to Linden Street, just south of Southern State Parkway. The park is open dawn to dusk. For information, contact the Nassau County Department of Recreation & Parks, (516) 785-2803 or 571-7443. How to Get There: To reach the park’s south end, take Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to its south terminus. Take Merrick Road east for 1.25 mile and turn left on Ocean Avenue. Park immediately and enter the park on your right. Here you encounter the white-blazed Greenbelt Trail along the lake. Turn left and always follow its white blazes as you head north along the trail through the park. For details on the trail directions, see the following section on the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. You can also park at the park’s northern end. To reach it from Merrick Road, continue east from Ocean Avenue, passing the park on your left. The next left is Lake Shore Road. Turn left on it and follow it 2.5 miles to Walker Street. Turn left on Walker Street where it ends inside the park at a parking lot. From the northwest corner of the parking lot, follow the trail. It crosses the paved Bethpage Bikeway, then a bridge over the stream, where it meets the Greenbelt Trail.