Eisenhower Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eisenhower Park Main Entrance

Eisenhower Park is centrally located in East Meadow, New York bordered by Hempstead Turnpike on the south and Old County Road on the north. At 930 acres (3.8 km²), it is larger than Central Park, with much of the area devoted to three 18-hole golf courses, including the Red Course, host to the annual Commerce Bank Championship (Champions Tour).The park is home to the September 11th Memorial for residents of Nassau County.

1 History
2 Activities in the park
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Part of the county park system since 1944, Eisenhower offers a full range of athletic and family activities, including some of the finest facilities in Nassau County, NY and an exciting schedule of summertime events.

The Eisenhower Park property was in the early part of the 20th century part of the private Salisbury Country Club and included five 18-hole golf courses. During the Depression, the owners were unable to pay taxes and the property was taken over by the county. Subsequently, the county acquired additional land in the area. In 1944, Nassau County Park at Salisbury was established as part of County Executive J. Russell Sprague's vision to create a park that "one day will be to Nassau County what Central Park is today to New York City." The park was officially dedicated in October of 1949.

On October 13, 1969, Salisbury Park was rededicated as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Park at a ceremony attended by the 34th President's grandson, Dwight D. Eisenhower II, and his wife, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

On March 11, 2004, President George W. Bush made a visit to Eisenhower Park for the groundbreaking of a new memorial for the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

[edit] Activities in the park

Athletics:

Batting cage with nine separate batting areas for varying pitching speeds.
17 baseball fields (14 for softball and three for hardball).
3 football fields.
4 soccer fields.
16 lighted tennis courts.

Entertainment:

The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre is an outdoor theater that hosts a full schedule of entertainment events during the summer, from concerts to movies.

Carltun on the Park restaurant, a privately run facility operated in a former country club. The Carltun offers a restaurant, bar, banquet facilities and a meeting room. The restaurant has played host to numerous events, including a fundraiser in 2004 for President George Bush.^[1]

Golf:

The park features three 18-hole golf courses open to the public: the Blue, Red and White courses. The Red is host to the annual Commerce Bank Championship (Champions Tour). Located adjacent to the courses is a driving range with more than 100 stalls and night hours in season.

In addition to the regular courses there are 2 lighted 18-hole miniature golf courses.

Swimming:

Nassau County Aquatic Center

The Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park is one of the finest swimming facilities in the U.S. Built in 1998 for the Goodwill Games, it currently hosts major swimming competitions and is also open daily to the public.

Located within the center is a renovated Health Club that contains treadmills, arc trainers, stationary bikes, stair machines, free weights and an assortment of Cybex weight machines.