72 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MARCH 2019
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS MASSAPEQUA:
Counter culture: Krisch's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlour serves up grub with a side of nostalgia. (Photo by Jennifer Uihlein)
By BRENDAN MANLEY
Those who grew up in central Long
Island on the South Shore during
the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s likely spent an
inordinate amount of time shuttling
back and forth on Sunrise Highway
to Massapequa, a long-standing area
hub for retail, restaurants, and
more retail. Between the venerable
Sunrise Mall and the flea-market
charm of Busy Bee Mall nearby,
Massapequa was the essential place
you went to shop and people-watch,
and for dietarily adventurous, maybe
even grab some White Castle.
Today, Busy Bee is long gone, and
the Sunrise Mall — while still
standing — has since been renovated
and turned into Westfield Sunrise,
but Massapequa’s importance as a
regional center for commerce, dining,
and recreation remains. The
hamlet and neighboring Village of
Massapequa Park, part of the larger
Town of Oyster Bay, also offers an
often overlooked bounty of parks,
beaches, nature preserves and other
public resources, making it one of
the most diverse neighborhoods
around.
When visiting Massapequa, start by
cruising Sunrise Highway and Merrick
Road, stopping off upon finding
the perfect spot for that pair of jeans
or sneakers. After the shopping is
done, here are some of the other
fine attractions and excursions
Massapequa has to offer:
PENCHANT FOR PARKS
Considering the Massapequa
census-designated place (CDP)
encompasses only 4 square miles,
the hamlet offers an excellent array
of public spaces. Once summer
rolls around, Massapequans and
enlightened visitors flock to Tobay
Beach (Ocean Pkwy., 516-679-3900,
oysterbaytown.com/departments/
parks/beaches), a private beach for
Town of Oyster Bay residents that
also welcomes nonresidents during
weekdays, for a $50 daily fee. Why
so pricey, you ask? Tobay offers
both bay and ocean fronts, as well
as a Spray Park and playground for
the kids, a miniature golf course,
and several restaurants. There are
also live music events held there at
various times during peak season.
While at Tobay, check out the adjacent
John F. Kennedy Memorial
Wildlife Sanctuary (Ocean Pkwy.,
516-679-3900, oysterbaytown.com/
departments/parks/beaches), featuring
550 acres of protected wetlands
that are accessible by a trail.
It is free to both Town of Oyster Bay
residents and nonresidents; however
a permit (free) must be obtained
through the town’s Beach Division,
either in person or by mail. It is open
year-round, but with limited hours
during summer months.
And hey, nonresidents who don’t
want to drop the $50 to visit Tobay
Beach can always head over to the
Philip B. Healey Beach at Florence
Avenue (30 Florence Ave.)
instead. This little-known local
favorite is small in size but large in
relaxation, with ample parking and
a playground for kids. It’s a quiet
spot that’s popular with families,
so please, behave.
Amid all of Massapequa’s retail
and restaurant bustle, there are
also still some open, green natural
spaces where you can find peace
and solace, like the Peter J. Schmitt
Massapequa Preserve (Merrick
Rd. and Ocean Ave., 516-572-0200,
nassaucountyny.gov/2905/Peter-
J-Schmitt-Massapequa-Preserve),
featuring 423 acres of remarkably
diverse wild habitat, including freshwater
swamps, marshes, streams,
lakes and sandy bogs. It is a favorite
of local walkers and joggers, and
fishing is permitted in several of the
lakes and streams (license required).
You can also access the Nassau-Suffolk
Greenbelt Trail there, which
runs the length of the preserve, continuing
onward to its termination at
Cold Spring Harbor.
Next to the Massapequa Preserve
is Brady Park (Lake Shore Dr. and
Front St.), a well-trafficked location
for baseball and basketball players,
also offering bocce courts, shaded
picnic facilities and a concert stage
used for community events and
live performances. There is also a
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