| Manorhaven Beach Park | |
|---|---|
 The beach at Manorhaven Beach Park in 2011 | |
 Interactive map of Manorhaven Beach Park | |
| Type | Public |
| Location | Manorhaven,New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°50′23.2″N73°42′54.7″W / 40.839778°N 73.715194°W /40.839778; -73.715194 |
| Area | ~20 acres (~8.1 ha) |
| Opened | c.1936 |
| Owned by | Town of North Hempstead |
| Operated by | Town of North Hempstead Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Paths | Yes |
| Parking | Yes |
| Website | Town of North Hempstead – Manorhaven Beach Park |
Manorhaven Beach Park – also known asManorhaven Town Park,Manorhaven Beach,Manorhaven Pool, andManorhaven Park – is a major, 20-acre (8.1 ha)park owned and operated by theTown of North Hempstead, located alongManhasset Bay within theIncorporated Village of Manorhaven, inNassau County,New York, United States.
Manorhaven Beach was taken over by the Town of North Hempstead in the 1930s under the administration of Supervisor Charles Snedeker, to create additional parkland in the town and to revitalize a major portion of Manorhaven's waterfront; this resulted in the creation of Manorhaven Town Park.[1][2][3] The town-owned park subsequently opened c.1936, with new amenities and a bathhouse. Its opening provided North Hempstead with two town-operated beaches – the other beingBar Beach inunincorporated Port Washington, which was also improved about this time by North Hempstead.[2][3][4]
In the years after opening, Manorhaven Beach became such a popular destination among both North Hempstead residents and non-residents – including people fromQueens andBrooklyn – that overcrowding became an issue.[5][6] By the 1940s, hundreds of nonresidents were using the beach on a typical summer day, exacerbating the overcrowding issues.[5][6] This prompted the Town of North Hempstead to enforce the park's residency requirements in 1946 – a move which effectively limited admission to North Hempstead residents with proof of identification; this restriction is still effective as of 2025.[5][7]
In 1957, officials in North Hempstead announced a $1 million plan to drastically expand and modernize Manorhaven Park.[8][9][10] As part of the project, anOlympic-sized swimming pool and bathing pavilion would be constructed, a playground would be opened, new ballfields and other recreational facilities would be built, and additional picnic areas would be created. The new park pavilions would be designed by Port Washington-based architect Henry Titus Aspinwall.[11][12] The project would also include the construction of an expanded parking lot, which would be constructed partially onlandfill overSheets Creek and marshland, and effectively growing the park's footprint by roughly 15 acres (6.1 ha); roughly 200,000 cubic yards of sand from Sheets Creek and Manhasset Bay would also be dredged for the landfill.[8][9][10] Town officials further noted that state and federal funding – along with bonds – would be used to complete the project.[8][10][11]
This park expansion project was initially met with controversy from several residents in Manorhaven, who expressed concerns over costs and traffic, among other things.[13][14][15] There was also debate among some members of the public as to whether the project required a town-wide referendum.[16] The project, furthermore, became a major issue in the 1957 race for North Hempstead Town Supervisor, in which the incumbent – Henry A. Sahm (R–Great Neck) – was ultimately re-elected.[13][15]
In 1962, the Town of North Hempstead moved forward with the project.[9][10][12][17] The pool's groundbreaking occurred on February 9, 1963, and the project was ultimately completed shortly thereafter, opening in time for the 1964 summer season with a dedication ceremony.[17][18] The design of the pool would tie for second place in a national design competition in 1965, second only toParkwood Pool in nearby Great Neck.[12]
Between 2010 and 2011, the pool facilities at Manorhaven Beach Park underwent extensive renovations and was modernized.[19][20] The pool was significantly expanded to 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2) and saw the addition ofwater slides and azero-entry, while an additional, 2,500-square-foot (230 m2)kiddie pool was built next to it.[19][20][21] The seating areas and pavilion buildings were also extensively modernized, renovated, and expanded as part of the project.[21][19] The renovated pool facility opened in June 2011, and pool membership increased by 250% following the completion of the $12 million project.[19][22]
In 2015, the park's boat ramp was renovated, and the shoreline was stabilized.[23]
As of 2025, Manorhaven Beach Park has the following amenities:[7][19]