Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

I am very pleased with what they have done to this place.
Nature at it’s best with more then one trail to the top, health recommendations along the way, beautiful views, flowers, birds and other animals.
I have visited here a countless number of times and will continue to do so.

Nice place to walk any time before dusk. It’s so nice seeing the animals roaming around. The kayaks on the bay and the pier to water. Check it out!

I came here on a date with my man and it was a great experience. I always wanted to visit this park and see what it is about. First you drive through what it a sanitation facility and then you pull up next to this cute little park. I thought it was little but once you walk through it i realized this park was huge! They have little fitness stations which was fun and they have the fishing pier which is fun as well. The water was so beautiful and the landscaping was beautiful. Only downside was it was too close to the sanitation facility and construction sites.

Wonderful diversion on a day off from work. Drive through Hempstead Town’s Sanitation facility to reach this oasis that has reclaimed the old Merrick landfill. The walking paths are clean and well maintained and the sound and feel of the crunch of crushed shells under feet is pleasurable. I used a run, climb, walk strategy and was able to cover 10K during my visit today. The paths alternate in shade and sun depending on the side of the hill you are on. Views range from a reedy stream, open bay, man made pond and 360 panorama from the top that encompasses the NYC skyline, the VZ Bridge, Jones Beach and ocean as well as many LI landmarks. The fishing pier is immense and I noted that they offered transportation to and from on a regular basis.
Can a dump site really support nature? In my short time there, aside from numerous birds and butterflies, domesticated goats and chickens; I also spied turtles, spiky caterpillars, and egrets. I also had a chance encounter with a beautiful red fox (see my photos, please), who I followed up the winding path and allowed me to come within a few yards before scampering off in search of a meal.
Oh my, I see a few comments and complaints about ticks; in a nature preserve, really? My advice, stay on the paths, wear long pants and sleeves if necessary and find a loving partner to perform a tick check when you get home. BTW — there are probably bees and mosquitoes out there in the wild too! Take the risk, enjoy life!

The best place to go in Freeport. Clean, not too crowded, feels like Suffolk County. If you’re lucky, you’ll go on a day when they let the goats out of their pen to do their job, i.e., keeping the grass short. The paths are thankfully not paved, but shell-​covered. The view from the top of the ‘hill’ is good even on an unclear day. The park workers seem to frequently monitor the path.
One downside is that their kayak rentals are over-​priced, but at least they have them available.

It was a nice stroll to the pier. The goats were a surprise. I wish there were more times to kayak. Too bad we couldn’t do it that day. It’s a nice place to get away for a little while, but that’s about it. I’m glad they have a pick-​up service for people who can’t or don’t want to do the mile back to the parking lot.

This park is located next to a sanitation area. Great place to take a walk, jog, & exercise. This park is free & it’s definitely one hidden gem! Other than walking trails, you can also see the Nigerian dwarf goats here. Beware of ticks! Don’t go off the trails. The view is beautiful! We love this place & we’ll definitely go back!

Omg what a hidden gem! I love this park its absolutely amazing and best of all its free for residents of Nassau County. I loved the goats but wish they had more animals like in a petting zoo. Beware of ticks and walk in the middle of the path. The trails are great for a nice workout and the pier offers a beautiful view of the ocean. Makes you want a boat. This will be my new spot!

Great park hidden behind the Merrick Sanitation area. There is a booth that you have to pass by but you just tell them you are going to the park if someone is in it. Nigerian Dwarf Goats live at the park and could be easily spotted at the entrance of the park. Roosters, Guinea Fowl, Ducks and Geese can also be easily spotted throughout the park. Today I was surprised to see a pair of Foxes hopping in the tall grasses. They did not seem to be threatening as they kept off of the path and just watched the people as they passed. The paths are lined with crushed seashells and do not have much of an incline so they are easy to walk/​run on. There are fit trail stations too if you want to work out along the path. A shuttle service is offered for those who do not want to walk. Be sure to hike to the top area as the views are worth the trip, especially over the golf course area (East). Looking toward the West you can see the Manhattan skyline on a clear day. Kayak tours are also held at the park for $ 25 (single) or $ 35 (tandem). Not sure how good the tours are, but they do seem to be popular. The fishing pier is wide and in good condition. It seemed like the fishermen were making good catches there, or were just skilled/​lucky.

me and my wife run this trail daily. its has great views and its one of the best trails I’ve ever ran/​jog.

What would have been a great experience turned into an absolute nightmare when I got home to discover a tick embedded into my sons neck in the back of his scalp. He was in a stroller and we never EVER left the trail so this was a very scary experience for me. Upon rushing him to the pediatrician for removal of said tick that had already burrowed itself inside of his skin, I was told it was a dog tick. Not as dangerous as a deer tick, but still. I would say don’t bring kids here at all to be safe and if you come here to walk the trails; please do Yourself a favor and do a thorough tick check immediately. This experience was too much to bear so I won’t be returning, but this is a warning for anyone else who may frequent this park.

Great, public place for almost any time of day for a walk, run, meander, climb. Views from bottom to top are of trees, Freeport Creek (you can put in a kayak from the park’s ramp), Merrick and Hampstead Bays, Merrick Road Golf Course and beyond, to Jones Inlet and the Jones Beach Water Tower. From the top, you can see Manhattan, Queens, and east to other parts of Long Island. There is a recently refurbished windmill that pumps water up to help aerate the little pond that is home to geese and ducks. Signs point to «faster routes» to the top/​bottom; we took the longest route up, then down, then double backed until we had walked over 4.5 miles. Pea hens chase each other all over, there are Nigerian Dwarf goats grazing at the bottom of the hill, as well as chickens, and a mini-​amphitheater, most likely for Ranger talks. Maps and informative plaques are everywhere to help you find your way and learn about the critters who reside/​visit here. A solar-​powered mini-​bus is available for those needing help to the top.

As a birder and photographer I found that the Norman Levy preserve affords excellent overhead views of the osprey nest. Hence, excellent photo ops. This is possibly the only site on Long Island with this feature. In all of the other osprey nest locations with which I am familiar, the viewer/​photographer is below the nest, looking up.

Formerly Merrick Landfill until 2000, now a park and preserve site, wildlife sanctuary but not in the same elaborate scale as Jamaica Wildlife Refuge.
Owned and operated by the Town of Hempstead in Merrick, NY. The walking trail is two miles overlooking a lovely view of Jones Inlet into Jones Beach Tower. The trail itself is a man made pavement unnatural to nature’s purity to mask a landfill. I find this trail good but not extensive to inhabit wildlife animals as it appears more of a man made setting as oppose to a natural environment. I did not see any horseshoe crabs, turtles or Plover, Osprey birds. The stench from this former landfill site is not in the air despite of my hesitation to visit. Remnants of this landfill are visible with methane vents throughout the trail and a old agricultural windmill. Two man made freshwater ponds are home for Canadian geese with marshes. The fishing pier extends 500 feet into picturesque Merrick Bay and contains an active fishing hole. Park Rangers at Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve are friendly and welcoming. Nigerian Dwarf Goats viewing and possibly petting are open to the public. With a friend, we were too engrossed in our conversation that we missed the goat viewing.
Jitneys are available for patrons with physical limitations. Kayaks are launched from June to the end of August. Free parking facilities are available on premises. Admission to this park and preserve is free, disappointingly there is no welcome station for visitors to inquire a map or attain information for logistics of the grounds.