Hempstead Lake State Park

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West Hempstead, NY
Hempstead Lake State Park

Go fishing, take a stroll, or register for an environmental education program! https://linktr.ee/hempsteadlakestatepark

History:
In 1925 Robert Moses convinced the City of New York to dedicate 2,200 acres of city water supply areas in Nassau County for state park and parkway purposes in the form of a surface easement. 903 of these acres became Hempstead Lake State Park. After the dedication of these water supply areas, the Park Commission immediately began improvements for parks and parkways. Prior to the acquisiti

on, these lands remained mostly wild and inaccessible. Kenneth Roberts describes these areas in his historical novel of the Revolutionary War as impenetrable, mosquito- infested swamps where loyalists hid from the rebels. In the main picnic area is the only mechanical amusement device found in any of the state parks on Long Island - a children’s carousel. This carousel was built around the turn of the century by M.C.Illions of Coney Island and was donated to State Parks by August Heckscher around 1931. Prior to it being erected at Hempstead Lake, it was a “traveling knock down type”. The wooden horses are hand carved and their tails contain real horse hair. In 1981 the carousel was closed due to lack of funds for proper maintenance. The local village of Rockville Centre approached State Parks with an offer to rehabilitate and operate the carousel in one of the local parks. An initial agreement was made and plans to move the carousel were taken. Local residents in West Hempstead and Lakeview then rallied together and gathered petitions. This public outcry stopped the relocation. Over a period of many months the carousel was rehabilitated. After having stood idle for four years, the sound of children was once again heard from the carousel.

05/30/2026

Good Morning Everyone, unfortunately we have to cancel our public programming for this weekend. If you signed up for one of these events, you will receive a cancellation email from our Eventbrite page. We do apologize for any inconveniences. We hope to see you at one of our public programs in June! You can access our June public program calendar by clicking the link in our bio!

04/29/2026

Today in Tiny Tots class, we built our own little bird nests and sparked even bigger curiosity about the world of birds! 🪺🐣🐥

Interested in nature based classes for your 3-5 year old? Join us every other Wednesday at the Environmental Education & Resiliency Center. Sign up at the link in our bio 🔗

04/21/2026

We’re less than two weeks away from I Love My Park Day!

Join us at Hempstead Lake State Park where we’ll come together as a community to lend a hand at the park!

Together, we’ll plant trees, spruce up our garden beds, and litter pick around the lake.

Register for this event at ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day/

🕐: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍: Meet at the Environmental Education & Resiliency Center, Field 1 Hempstead Lake State Park

04/19/2026

We’re diving headfirst into Spring with a May full of outdoor fun! 🪴

Fresh air, blooming views, and programming that gets you moving, creating, and connecting!

Don’t miss our I Love My Park Day on Saturday, May 2nd, where we’ll be planting trees, cleaning our garden beds, and coming together for a community litter pick, because loving our park means caring for it too! 🌳🪏🌿

Click the link in our bio to register for our May programs, we can’t wait to celebrate the season of Spring with you 🌸🌷🌼

04/18/2026

Amazing things happen when we come together! 💙

Thank you to everyone who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and gave their time and energy to our Earth Day cleanup! 🌎

04/15/2026

Let’s show up for the planet that shows up for us🌎💙

Join us for a park clean up this Saturday, April 18th, and help us turn small actions into big impact!

Bring your friends, good energy, and your love for planet Earth. Gloves, bags, and pick sticks provided!

Sign up for our clean up by scanning the QR code, or clicking the link in our bio 🔗

03/19/2026

🌿Spring is calling at Hempstead Lake State Park!🌿

As the days get longer and the air gets warmer, it’s the perfect time to step outside and reconnect with nature ☀️

From hands-on workshops to guided adventures, our April programs will get you learning, growing, and exploring in the great outdoors!

Come outside, get curious, and let nature be your classroom this Spring 🌸🌿🐝

02/27/2026

SNOW way we’re missing Maple Fest tomorrow! ☃️🍁🥞 Just one more day till the fun begins!

Come on out to Hempstead Lake State Park tomorrow 2/28 for a family friendly festival filled with all things Maple!

📍Environmental Education & Resiliency Center - Field 1
🕐 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
FREE Event!

We can’t wait to see you tomorrow and celebrate everything Maple!

02/25/2026

Only THREE more days until the sweetest festival of the year! 🍁✨

Who are you bringing to Maple Fest with you? 😎

02/21/2026

We’re just ONE week away from our annual Maple Fest! 🍁

Join us at Hempstead Lake State Park next Saturday, February 28th, 2026 from 10 AM - 2 PM for a fun-filled day of all things maple! Come learn how to make your own maple syrup at home, and discover the rich history of maple sugaring traditions!

Send this to a friend who you want to go to maple fest with! 🍁✨

We hope to see you out there! 👋

Address

880 Lake Drive
West Hempstead, NY
11552

Telephone

(516) 766-1029

Website

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/hempsteadlake

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