Massapequa preserve, Massapequa, ny
History:
"Fifty years before the Brooklyn Water Works Reservoir was built to the west of Brady Park and north of the Long Island Railroad tracks, the man-made lake at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Merrick Road was under construction. The year was 1837, and many who have followed the history of the Massapequas know that David S. Jones, a member of Massapequa's founding family, had the Massapequa Creek that flowed from Bethpage to the Great South Bay, diverted in order to cut down trees and remove stumps and brush to create a lake for his wife." You may read the full article here: http://www.massapequapost.com/news/2009-10-21/Columnists/A_lake_in_Massapequa_made_just_for_Mary.html
Length: It depends. AllTrails cites 6.5 miles. That's if you walk from Merrick Road nearly to Southern State. A walk can be as short or as long as you choose to make it. 432 acres of wildly diverse habitat ... just sayin'.
Level of Difficulty: Easy walking. It just depends how far you want to go.
Restrooms: No
Observations of a Forest Therapy Guide:
Massapequa Preserve is huge. To not know all of it is to do it a great disservice. Until recently, all I knew of Massapequa Preserve in Massapequa, NY, was the area from Sunrise Highway, past Clark Boulevard to, maybe, half a mile north near one of the many ponds. I'd always turn around and head back at that point.
I like that section of the preserve and prefer the western trail. It borders Massapequa Lake. It's paved and wide with access to the water for scenic views and photography. The eastern trail around Massapequa Lake starts out charming enough, and then narrows, shows horrific signs of neglect, feels a little creepy if you're walking alone and once, I saw a rat swimming in the lake near the shoreline. I hoped he'd stay there until I passed.
Now, talk about new perspectives! The other day, I was introduced to Massapequa Preserve north of Jerusalem Avenue and I simply fell in love. Here is where the best of Massapequa Preserve began for me. Beautiful off-the-pavement trails with wildflowers, wildlife and access to Massapequa Creek. Water invitations! I can hardly wait to lead some water invitations there. We passed by people sitting with their feet in the water and I so wanted to take my shoes off and join them! Another day ...
The preserve is made up of two sets of trails. One trail is on the east side of the preserve. It's a well-used bike trail. It goes all the way up to the Bethpage Bikeway so it's about 10-15 miles of trail. On the west side of the preserve, is the hiking or walking trail. There are unofficial trails on this side, too. Some bikers use these trails as an off-road option. Much of Massapequa Preserve trails are paved and in very good condition.
The trails are wide on the main trails. I was directed by another walker to a path that led to a heavily rooted dirt trail and a section of the stream or pond where the swans were spending the afternoon. It was still passable, although I had to duck once or twice to pass under tree branches. That trail led to the spot where there was a small dam and 'waterfall' - less than a foot high - man-made - to cross to the bike trail and the east side of the stream. There was a man there with his dog. He said this is a spot where people come to wade in the stream; dogs, too, even though the park is not a dog park; doesn't permit dogs. I saw no evidence of dog waste, it feels important to mention that as an observable trail condition. Like many of the preserves and parks, stewardship is passive, so even though there are security cameras at Massapequa Preserve (unknown locations), there is no gate, no security patrolling, no one enforcing the no dog rule. I prefer places where dogs are permitted. They bring good energy to a park or preserve, so it was lovely to see them at Massapequa Preserve, as especially to see this one dog, enjoying the stream.
Trail aesthetics are pretty good, and I'm something of a critic about how humans create their relationship with the forest. There were a few items of note.
The first, along the east side trail, there was a stream-gauge outbuilding. I remarked, "How lovely that whoever put this here chose to keep it inconspicuous." Uh, no. Bright red paint over a small brick building (think tiny house). There was a bench nearby, dedicated to someone's child, who only lived 17 years in this lifetime. My walking companion stated that there used to be flowers all around that area by the bench, but in the last few years, the planting seems to have been abandoned. So, she wondered if the parents were well/healthy. That is the point of our relationship with nature: to reflect, to connect, not the brightly painted red outbuilding, which, if it has to be there, could have been designed with nature in mind or at least been painted a subtle green. It's not going anywhere. You can't miss it. Think, people, think.
There was the usual trash in places where humans are invited to rest along the trail: near benches or sense rooms by the water. It's always disappointing to see that we don't respect a place we come to for some peace and quiet, although not everyone goes to a preserve for peace and quiet. Some go not to be seen, which is why Massapequa Preserve now has security cameras. Sigh.
There was some graffiti on trees; one, especially poignant. Be kind. Peace. That tree was carved over most of any reachable trunk and bark. I think the "be kind' message was meant for the tree. <3
South of Sunrise:
I've also walked the trail south of Sunrise Highway starting on Merrick Road. The trail is less cared for here. It felt neglected, actually. I remarked to my companion that the invasive plants, especially poison ivy, were having a field day here. Soon, you won't be able to see the native plants and trees; only vines consuming them. I wasn't happy.
We couldn't seem to get close to the lake. It was on our right and yet, out of reach, so we were walking in a dense, overgrown forest without any real focal points. My friend and I spent quite a bit of our time taking photos of leaves and checking them out on our newest app, PlantNet. As long as there's good Wi-Fi, it's a great way to identify plants.
One highlight, I came across a clump of Indian Pipes or Ghost plants. They are colorless, no photosynthesis. They consume the fungi underground so are considered parasitic. The photo is in the slideshow on this page. They are amazing!
If you're going to walk Massapequa Preserve or even bike it, I recommend north of Sunrise for the scenery and diversity.
"Fifty years before the Brooklyn Water Works Reservoir was built to the west of Brady Park and north of the Long Island Railroad tracks, the man-made lake at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Merrick Road was under construction. The year was 1837, and many who have followed the history of the Massapequas know that David S. Jones, a member of Massapequa's founding family, had the Massapequa Creek that flowed from Bethpage to the Great South Bay, diverted in order to cut down trees and remove stumps and brush to create a lake for his wife." You may read the full article here: http://www.massapequapost.com/news/2009-10-21/Columnists/A_lake_in_Massapequa_made_just_for_Mary.html
Length: It depends. AllTrails cites 6.5 miles. That's if you walk from Merrick Road nearly to Southern State. A walk can be as short or as long as you choose to make it. 432 acres of wildly diverse habitat ... just sayin'.
Level of Difficulty: Easy walking. It just depends how far you want to go.
Restrooms: No
Observations of a Forest Therapy Guide:
Massapequa Preserve is huge. To not know all of it is to do it a great disservice. Until recently, all I knew of Massapequa Preserve in Massapequa, NY, was the area from Sunrise Highway, past Clark Boulevard to, maybe, half a mile north near one of the many ponds. I'd always turn around and head back at that point.
I like that section of the preserve and prefer the western trail. It borders Massapequa Lake. It's paved and wide with access to the water for scenic views and photography. The eastern trail around Massapequa Lake starts out charming enough, and then narrows, shows horrific signs of neglect, feels a little creepy if you're walking alone and once, I saw a rat swimming in the lake near the shoreline. I hoped he'd stay there until I passed.
Now, talk about new perspectives! The other day, I was introduced to Massapequa Preserve north of Jerusalem Avenue and I simply fell in love. Here is where the best of Massapequa Preserve began for me. Beautiful off-the-pavement trails with wildflowers, wildlife and access to Massapequa Creek. Water invitations! I can hardly wait to lead some water invitations there. We passed by people sitting with their feet in the water and I so wanted to take my shoes off and join them! Another day ...
The preserve is made up of two sets of trails. One trail is on the east side of the preserve. It's a well-used bike trail. It goes all the way up to the Bethpage Bikeway so it's about 10-15 miles of trail. On the west side of the preserve, is the hiking or walking trail. There are unofficial trails on this side, too. Some bikers use these trails as an off-road option. Much of Massapequa Preserve trails are paved and in very good condition.
The trails are wide on the main trails. I was directed by another walker to a path that led to a heavily rooted dirt trail and a section of the stream or pond where the swans were spending the afternoon. It was still passable, although I had to duck once or twice to pass under tree branches. That trail led to the spot where there was a small dam and 'waterfall' - less than a foot high - man-made - to cross to the bike trail and the east side of the stream. There was a man there with his dog. He said this is a spot where people come to wade in the stream; dogs, too, even though the park is not a dog park; doesn't permit dogs. I saw no evidence of dog waste, it feels important to mention that as an observable trail condition. Like many of the preserves and parks, stewardship is passive, so even though there are security cameras at Massapequa Preserve (unknown locations), there is no gate, no security patrolling, no one enforcing the no dog rule. I prefer places where dogs are permitted. They bring good energy to a park or preserve, so it was lovely to see them at Massapequa Preserve, as especially to see this one dog, enjoying the stream.
Trail aesthetics are pretty good, and I'm something of a critic about how humans create their relationship with the forest. There were a few items of note.
The first, along the east side trail, there was a stream-gauge outbuilding. I remarked, "How lovely that whoever put this here chose to keep it inconspicuous." Uh, no. Bright red paint over a small brick building (think tiny house). There was a bench nearby, dedicated to someone's child, who only lived 17 years in this lifetime. My walking companion stated that there used to be flowers all around that area by the bench, but in the last few years, the planting seems to have been abandoned. So, she wondered if the parents were well/healthy. That is the point of our relationship with nature: to reflect, to connect, not the brightly painted red outbuilding, which, if it has to be there, could have been designed with nature in mind or at least been painted a subtle green. It's not going anywhere. You can't miss it. Think, people, think.
There was the usual trash in places where humans are invited to rest along the trail: near benches or sense rooms by the water. It's always disappointing to see that we don't respect a place we come to for some peace and quiet, although not everyone goes to a preserve for peace and quiet. Some go not to be seen, which is why Massapequa Preserve now has security cameras. Sigh.
There was some graffiti on trees; one, especially poignant. Be kind. Peace. That tree was carved over most of any reachable trunk and bark. I think the "be kind' message was meant for the tree. <3
South of Sunrise:
I've also walked the trail south of Sunrise Highway starting on Merrick Road. The trail is less cared for here. It felt neglected, actually. I remarked to my companion that the invasive plants, especially poison ivy, were having a field day here. Soon, you won't be able to see the native plants and trees; only vines consuming them. I wasn't happy.
We couldn't seem to get close to the lake. It was on our right and yet, out of reach, so we were walking in a dense, overgrown forest without any real focal points. My friend and I spent quite a bit of our time taking photos of leaves and checking them out on our newest app, PlantNet. As long as there's good Wi-Fi, it's a great way to identify plants.
One highlight, I came across a clump of Indian Pipes or Ghost plants. They are colorless, no photosynthesis. They consume the fungi underground so are considered parasitic. The photo is in the slideshow on this page. They are amazing!
If you're going to walk Massapequa Preserve or even bike it, I recommend north of Sunrise for the scenery and diversity.