Our Nassau County Parks Department by the Numbers!
Dear Neighbor,
Here in the Nassau County Comptroller's Office, we view the County through the lens of data, with a focus on how our taxpayer dollars are being spent. One of our goals is to gather and analyze data and prepare reports that clearly communicate accurate, important, and useful information regarding our County with you. Recently, the Comptroller’s team worked with members of the County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums (Parks Department) to analyze how much of the County’s budget goes into this area, how the money is spent, and what our residents get for the investment.
For 2024, the Parks Department has a budget of $31.85 million. This may sound like a lot of money, yet it is just 0.73% (less than one percent) of the County’s $4.44 billion budget. And what the Parks Department provides for that – from Sands Point on the north shore to Bay Park on the south shore – is truly impressive. The County parks system includes 11 active (staffed) parks, including the 930-acre Eisenhower Park, which is larger than New York City’s Central Park; 14 passive (unstaffed) parks such as Hall’s Pond Park in West Hempstead and Lofts Pond Park in Baldwin; and 19 nature and historic preserves.
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In addition, County-wide we have more than 200 athletic fields and courts, including baseball, softball, tennis, pickleball, basketball, cricket and more, as shown in the chart to the left. And, as you may know, a temporary 34,000-seat cricket stadium was built in Eisenhower Park, fully funded by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The modular stadium will be deconstructed after Nassau County hosts the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup next month, leaving us with a new, professional quality cricket field for residents and visitors to utilize well into the future.
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As its name suggests, Nassau County’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums also operates seven museums including the Joycetta & Julius Pearse African American Museum in Hempstead, the Grist Mill Museums in Roslyn and Saddle Rock, and the Cedarmere and Chelsea Manor Gold Coast mansions. We also host world-class museums including the Cradle of Aviation and the Long Island Children’s Museum at Museum Row and the spectacular Nassau County Museum of Art.
A Nassau County Resident Leisure Pass is required to access some of the facilities listed above and provides a discount to others. The cost of a standard Resident Leisure Pass is $36 once every three years but for seniors, veterans, certain civic volunteers, and Nassau residents with certified disabilities there is only a one-time fee of $30. Active military members do not need Leisure Passes; they are granted free access to these facilities with their military ID.
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As you can see, our Parks Department offers countless opportunities for you to explore nature, plan a staycation, or simply experience exciting new adventures. And while Nassau County is home to some of finest golf courses on the globe, if golfing is not for you, you can explore our miles of scenic hiking trails at locations such as the 216-acre Sands Point Preserve, ride along our beautiful bike paths at Eisenhower Park and Wantagh Park or take advantage of our athletic fields, beaches, boat slips, fishing areas, and campsites!
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Learn more about the Parks Department here or visit the Nassau County Parks website for a list of park locations and facilities near you. You can begin your search at www.nassaucountyny.gov/1796/Where-to-Go or use the user-friendly interactive Parks Map that our data analyst summer interns created at https://tinyurl.com/NassauCountyParks.
Handicap accessible playground and athletic field located at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, near the entrance at Stewart & Merrick Avenues.
Comptroller’s Office Continues to Deliver Positive Results
Our Vendor Claims Division, which serves as the accounts payable review unit for the County of Nassau, continues to make improvements and deliver positive results for vendors and individuals who do business with our County. For example, over the past two months, the Comptroller’s Office processed more than 2,000 invoices for attorneys who are assigned by the courts to represent indigent Nassau County residents. We pulled up these invoices, which were stuck in an inefficient part of the system, and revamped the payment process for this type of claim, known as 18B claims, and have reduced wait times from many months to just weeks.
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Giving Back to Our County Veterans
Nassau County is home to approximated 33,000 Veterans and as your County Comptroller, I am proud to represent those brave veterans who have served our nation. In fact, earlier this month, I joined the Nassau County Office for the Aging for their monthly Senior Veteran’s Luncheon, where I shared key principles and safety tips from my Korean martial art, Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, with our Veterans and their loved ones. I was pleased to have the opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation for their selfless service and sacrifice to our nation. If you are a member of the Nassau County veteran community and want to learn about programs and services you may be entitled to, please visit the Veterans Service Agency website.
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