Things to do / Travel Guide
Long Island's Suffolk and Nassau Counties have devoted literally thousands of acres to state and county public parks - but they didn't forget the younger crowd when doing so. From padded playgrounds to state-of-the-art climbing structures, sprinkler pools to roller skating and ice skating rinks, Long Island's many parks are guaranteed to tire out your small (or big) children. Nearly all of the children's playgrounds are nestled in much larger parks featuring wide, open grassy meadows perfect for running and Frisbee, as well as designated softball and baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and basketball courts.
Parks around North Shore, Long Island
Hempstead Harbor Park on West Shore Road offers basketball courts, miniature golf and large picnic areas. Christopher Morley Park in North Hills features a wonderful playground with a non-traditional climbing apparatus, as well as a large basin for model boat lovers. Syosset-Woodbury Park, in Woodbury has a unique padded playground that'll keep your kids safe. Tappen Beach and Park in Glenwood Landing will keep your children occupied for hours - there is a playground right on the beach and another near the marina, as well as a wide, grassy field for tossing frisbees and turning somersaults. In Port Jefferson, head to Fun 4 All, for an enormous indoor playground with tree houses and a ball pitt.
Parks around South Shore, Long Island
Bay Park in East Rockaway is a great place for the kids to jump, run, and roll. There is an outdoor roller rink and the new, spacious playground includes a spray pool. Cedar Creek Park in Seaford is arguably Long Island's best playground. Cedar Creek is a 259-acre park with a year-round roller rink, an aerodrome field to fly model airplanes. Grant Park has an outdoor roller rink (used for winter ice skating), a spray pool, and three separate play areas for pre-schoolers, children, and pre-adolescents. Young skateboarding fanatics will like the new skating park at Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach.
Parks around the Hamptons, Long Island
Enjoy Cedar Point County Park's (East Hampton) beautiful views of Gardiner's Bay while your children get rid of some energy on the playgrounds. Hampton Bays' Meschutt Beach County Park allows parents to swim and sunbathe while children entertain themselves on the play structures. Smith Point County Park, on the Fire Island barrier beach, also offers good playground facilities. Cantiague Park in Hicksville has hosted Olympic skaters on their professional, indoor ice-skating rink, but that is not this park's only claim to fame, there's an 18-hole miniature golf course, Long Island's best outdoor swimming facility (complete with Olympic-sized pool, water slides, and a diving pool), and a large playground geared to anticipate the interests of both pre-schoolers and early adolescents. Eisenhower Park in East Meadow is a 930-acre park with miniature golf and three playground areas, and a popular sprinkler pool.
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