Natural Areas of the South Shore of Long Island

Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve
(Merrick Village)

Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve is one of the most outstanding, and certainly most unique, parks in Nassau County. It is not because it has natural ponds, creeks, marshes or woodlands… in fact it is completely made by humans. What makes it so unusual is that it is the highest point and the only hill in the South Shore of Nassau County.

Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve is the former Merrick Landfill. Sixteen years after the landfill was closed, the Town of Hempstead smartly transformed it into a public park.

Opened in 2000, it is now a ¾ mile-long narrow hill, 115 feet high, providing the best view, a 360-degree panorama, on Nassau County’s South Shore. From its top, Manhattan’s skyline can be seen, 24 miles to the west.

The 50-acre park boasts 3.3 miles of groomed trails, a boardwalk across a restored wetland, exercise stations and an information kiosk about recycling and solid waste treatment. On the hilltop, there is an osprey nesting platform, two summit ponds with water birds, and a working windmill that circulates the water of the ponds. On the shore are a fishing pier and a kayak launch site.

The former Merrick Landfill, not surprisingly, started off rather barren. At the summit, they are establishing a coastal prairie grassland and wildflower meadows. The slopes currently are covered with shrubs and saplings such as Norway maple, tree of heaven, mulberry, black locust and sumac (the edible kind). Wetlands surround the hill, covered by reed grass (Phragmites), native cattail, and salt marsh cord grass (Spartina).

The summit and observation platform offers outstanding bird observation. Tree swallows and gulls at the top are commonly seen, while redwing blackbirds, great and snowy egrets, black crowned night herons, Canada geese and mallards can also be sighted.

The park is open from 7:00 am to dusk. For the holiday schedule, call (516) 378-4210, ext. 379 or 378. Try to go on a clear day for the best vista.

How to Get There: From Meadowbrook Parkway, take exit M9E. Head east on Merrick Road. Immediately turn right into the park road. Look carefully for the park signs; they are not easy to spot! Get a map at the entrance booth. Notice that the parking lot is made of crushed seashells.

Start off by walking the short boardwalk through the restored wetland area. Facing the bay, it is to your right at the inland end of the creek. After that, orient yourself at the information kiosk. We suggest you start by following the trails that switch back up the hill to its summit.

At the hilltop, go to the observation platform to admire the panorama. Look first for the Manhattan skyline, 24 miles to the west, with Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau County’s villages closer to you. Directly below you to the west is the Meadow Brook channel. Turn clockwise and you see a line of hills to your north, 11 miles away. They are the Ronkonkoma Moraine hills that were created when the continental glaciers deposited sand and gravel at that spot about 15,000 years ago. It is hard to imagine that the glacier was more than a thousand feet thick here! At the time, the coastline was dozens of miles further south because sea level was much lower. When all that ice melted, it drained seaward, depositing a flat apron (outwash plain) of sand and gravel to the south. This formed the primary part of the South Shore as we see it today. The ocean and currents later added the barrier and bay islands and channels.

Swing to your right again to the east, to look over the expanse of suburban sprawl, a golf course, and many water towers. The water towers remind us of how important it is to reduce pollution and to protect wetlands and natural areas, since they maintain both the quality and the quantity of Long Island’s drinking water.

Toward the southeast, you can see the causeway, tower and theater of Jones Beach across East Bay. To the south are the ocean and buildings of Lido Beach. The closest waters to the south are Merrick Bay. Looking toward the southwest, you see Middle Bay, tidal wetlands and channels, the hill of an active landfill, and Atlantic Beach bridge in the distance.

While at the top, you can play a game by counting how many water towers, radio towers and church steeples you can see. Of course, air quality will affect visibility. Try it first without binoculars, and then slowly scan to see how many more you spy with binoculars. The current “naked eye” count is as follows: 20 water towers, 10 radio towers, and 7 church steeples. How many did you count?

When you are ready to leave the summit, head along the ridge top trail toward the bay. As you slowly descend, walk to the tip and out onto the pier. To return, walk along the bottom of either side of the hill back to your car.

Access Guide Introduction :: Map and Guide :: More Estuary Site Information
	Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve (Merrick Village) Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve is one of the most outstanding, and certainly most unique, parks in Nassau County. It is not because it has natural ponds, creeks, marshes or woodlands… in fact it is completely made by humans. What makes it so unusual is that it is the highest point and the only hill in the South Shore of Nassau County. Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve is the former Merrick Landfill. Sixteen years after the landfill was closed, the Town of Hempstead smartly transformed it into a public park. Opened in 2000, it is now a ¾ mile-long narrow hill, 115 feet high, providing the best view, a 360-degree panorama, on Nassau County’s South Shore. From its top, Manhattan’s skyline can be seen, 24 miles to the west. The 50-acre park boasts 3.3 miles of groomed trails, a boardwalk across a restored wetland, exercise stations and an information kiosk about recycling and solid waste treatment. On the hilltop, there is an osprey nesting platform, two summit ponds with water birds, and a working windmill that circulates the water of the ponds. On the shore are a fishing pier and a kayak launch site. The former Merrick Landfill, not surprisingly, started off rather barren. At the summit, they are establishing a coastal prairie grassland and wildflower meadows. The slopes currently are covered with shrubs and saplings such as Norway maple, tree of heaven, mulberry, black locust and sumac (the edible kind). Wetlands surround the hill, covered by reed grass (Phragmites), native cattail, and salt marsh cord grass (Spartina). The summit and observation platform offers outstanding bird observation. Tree swallows and gulls at the top are commonly seen, while redwing blackbirds, great and snowy egrets, black crowned night herons, Canada geese and mallards can also be sighted. The park is open from 7:00 am to dusk. For the holiday schedule, call (516) 378-4210, ext. 379 or 378. Try to go on a clear day for the best vista. How to Get There: From Meadowbrook Parkway, take exit M9E. Head east on Merrick Road. Immediately turn right into the park road. Look carefully for the park signs; they are not easy to spot! Get a map at the entrance booth. Notice that the parking lot is made of crushed seashells. Start off by walking the short boardwalk through the restored wetland area. Facing the bay, it is to your right at the inland end of the creek. After that, orient yourself at the information kiosk. We suggest you start by following the trails that switch back up the hill to its summit. At the hilltop, go to the observation platform to admire the panorama. Look first for the Manhattan skyline, 24 miles to the west, with Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau County’s villages closer to you. Directly below you to the west is the Meadow Brook channel. Turn clockwise and you see a line of hills to your north, 11 miles away. They are the Ronkonkoma Moraine hills that were created when the continental glaciers deposited sand and gravel at that spot about 15,000 years ago. It is hard to imagine that the glacier was more than a thousand feet thick here! At the time, the coastline was dozens of miles further south because sea level was much lower. When all that ice melted, it drained seaward, depositing a flat apron (outwash plain) of sand and gravel to the south. This formed the primary part of the South Shore as we see it today. The ocean and currents later added the barrier and bay islands and channels. Swing to your right again to the east, to look over the expanse of suburban sprawl, a golf course, and many water towers. The water towers remind us of how important it is to reduce pollution and to protect wetlands and natural areas, since they maintain both the quality and the quantity of Long Island’s drinking water. Toward the southeast, you can see the causeway, tower and theater of Jones Beach across East Bay. To the south are the ocean and buildings of Lido Beach. The closest waters to the south are Merrick Bay. Looking toward the southwest, you see Middle Bay, tidal wetlands and channels, the hill of an active landfill, and Atlantic Beach bridge in the distance. While at the top, you can play a game by counting how many water towers, radio towers and church steeples you can see. Of course, air quality will affect visibility. Try it first without binoculars, and then slowly scan to see how many more you spy with binoculars. The current “naked eye” count is as follows: 20 water towers, 10 radio towers, and 7 church steeples. How many did you count? When you are ready to leave the summit, head along the ridge top trail toward the bay. As you slowly descend, walk to the tip and out onto the pier. To return, walk along the bottom of either side of the hill back to your car. .