Roslyn-North Hills, Searingtown Road, north of Long Island Expressway
516-571-8113
On-site staff: Yes

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CHRISTOPHER MORLEY PARK, SET ON 98 ACRES AND CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN PART of the county.  The park has been in the Nassau County park system since 1961. The County paid $704,000 for the property, which was the former Estate of Nettie Ryan and included the Links Golf Club. The park is named after Christopher Morley, one of the foremost American “men of letters” in the 20th century, a prolific writer who produced more than 50 books, including several popular novels, plays, poetry and essays. He also edited two volumes of “Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations” and was a founder of the Book of the Month Club.

A great deal of Christopher Morley's work was done in a functional one-room studio called the “Knothole” (see a more full description in the list below), located on his property in Roslyn on the North Shore and constructed in 1934. “I built myself a pine-wood cabin, as aloofly as a Long Island suburb would permit, to consort with the shade of John Bartlett,” wrote Morley.

In 1966, nine years after Christopher Morley’s death, the writer’s friends and neighbors had the Knothole transferred to one of Nassau County’s parks in Roslyn-North Hills, subsequently named Christopher Morley Park. The renovated Knothole includes built-in bookshelves, a fireplace and a bunkbed. But the public has been most intrigued over the years by the Knothole’s “dymaxion” bathroom, which was designed in 1936 by Morley’s friend, Buckminster Fuller, the renowned scientist and inventor. It is a one-piece, pre-assembled unit.

The park provides numerous opportunities for recreation:

Athletics/Physical Activities:

• There are five tennis courts (fee and Leisure Pass required);
• four lighted handball/paddleball courts;
• four basketball courts;
• and two paddle-tennis courts.
• Athletic fields include three baseball fields (softball and hardball, including Little League) and volleyball courts.

Family/Kids:

The playground at Christopher Morley provides a variety of activities.

• A recently renovated playground provides a variety of activities, including a nontraditional climbing apparatus.
• Hobby enthusiasts can enjoy the 140- by 300-foot boat basin designed for model boats.
• There are unreserved and reserved (fee) picnic areas, which include barbecue equipment. Leisure Pass and fee required for reserved areas; call 516-571-8113. See "News & Events" below for more information.

Golf:

• The park features a 9-hole, par-30 golf course. The course is 1,603 yards, with holes ranging from 97 yards to 267 yards. Click here for link to Nassau County Golf.

Fitness Trail:

• The park has a one-mile Fitness Trail that provides a jogging or walking trail and 20 attractive and simple fitness stations incorporating a variety of exercises. These include stretching, pull-ups, sit-ups and balance walking exercises that increase slightly in difficulty as the trail proceeds. The trail begins on the north side of the park entrance by Searingtown Road, heads east past both the Dog Run and the woods before working its way past the baseball fields and playground, finally ending by the parking area overlooking the pond. The Fitness Trail is open year round.

The ice skating rink is open six days a week in winter.

Ice Skating:

• Christopher Morley’s outdoor ice skating rink, a community fixture since 1966, was named by News 12 Long Island viewers as the best outdoor skating rink on Long Island. The facility, which is 200-feet by 80-feet, is used by recreational skaters and hockey teams. The ice rink opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving through mid-March (weather permitting). Group and private lessons are available; ice charter rentals for parties and hockey teams are also available.
• Hours: There are two-hour sessions on the following days: Mon. -Tues. at 4 p.m.; Wed. at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Fri. at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Sat. - Sun. at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. There are no public sessions on Thursday.
• Fees (daily): Resident adult with Leisure Pass, $7; resident teenager 13-17 years of age with Leisure Pass, $5; resident child 12 and under accompanied by adult with Leisure Pass, $5; resident senior, disabled, vol. firefighter, ambulance corps, auxiliary police, veterans with Leisure Pass, $4; adult without Leisure Pass, $20, child without Leisure Pass, $14. Skate rentals are available for $5.

Swimming:

The pool is a popular summer destination.

• The outdoor swimming pool complex includes an Olympic-sized pool, diving tank with boards and a “kiddie” pool. Lockers and showers are available. Swimming pool will be open late June, through Labor Day. Swimming Lessons available.
• Hours: Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Fees (daily): Resident adult, $7; resident child (4-17 years of age), $5; senior, disabled, vol. firefighter, ambulance corps, auxiliary police, veterans, $3; non-resident adult, $15, non-resident child, $10. A Leisure Pass is required for residents to receive the resident rate.

Dog run:

• A dog run is located on the north side of the parking lot by the Christopher Morley "Knothole." The dog run is open year round. Please note that dogs are not allowed in any County parks or preserves, with the exception of the dog runs.

Other Activities:

• The park features 30 acres of peaceful and beautiful wooded nature trails that provide an ideal area for a leisurely stroll or jogging.
• There are courts for horseshoes and shuffleboard.
• A Farmer's Market operates at the park on Wednesday's from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is open mid-May through late November.

The interior of the Knothole, the writing studio used by Christopher Morley.

Christopher Morley "Knothole":

The Christopher Morley “Knothole” is a tiny one-room wooden cabin formerly used as a studio by prominent 20th-century Long Island editor and writer Christopher Morley (who authored such novels as “Thunder on the Left” and “Kitty Foyle”); it was later transported to the park. The facility is located by the dog run and is open occasionally for public programs.

Constructed in 1934, the Knothole includes built-in bookshelves, a fireplace and a bunkbed. But the public has been most intrigued over the years by the Knothole’s “dymaxion” bathroom, which was designed in 1936 by Morley’s friend, Buckminster Fuller, the renowned scientist and inventor. It is a one-piece, pre-assembled unit, similar to the bathrooms in use on airplanes.

In 2006, the County completed renovation work on the Knothole. The renovations involved replacing damaged siding, a task that required creating new siding to replicate the thick and irregularly shaped “wavy”-edge style of the original. The renovations also included adding a new roof, flashings, rebuilding windows and window sills. The porch was also refurbished and new handicapped-accessible ramp was installed.

Directions:

To reach Christopher Morley Park, take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 36/Searingtown Road exit (from east or west). Take Searingtown Road North and look for the park entrance on right (about 200 yards from the LIE).

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Mangano Announces Outdoor Pool Openings And Swim Lesson Registration

Mineola, NY – Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has announced that four of Nassau County’s outdoor swimming pools will open for the 2014 season on Monday, June 30th. Pool locations to open on the 30th of June include: Cantiague Park, Christopher Morley Park, North Woodmere Park, and Wantagh Park. The fifth County pool located at Nickerson Beach, will open on Saturday, June 14th.

Additionally, swimming lessons are offered at four of the County Park’s outdoor pools and are available for ages 3 and up. There will be 3 sessions this summer, each session is 2 weeks long and will run Monday – Friday, during the designated class times. There will be no classes held on Friday, July 4th.

To register for Swim lessons, any participant over the age of 13 must have a current leisure pass. Each class is $65 plus a $5 registration fee.

 

Registration Dates are as follows:

June 2nd: North Woodmere from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

June 3rd: Wantagh Park from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

June 4th: Cantiague Park from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

June 5th: Christopher Morley from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 

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Mangano Announces the Opening of the New Indoor Tennis Facility at Christopher Morley Park

Roslyn, NY – Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced today the opening of a new, state of the art indoor tennis facility in Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn.  Christopher Morley Tennis, a ten-court teaching and recreational tennis facility is a public-private partnership with Nassau County.

“We are very excited to bring this world-class tennis facility to the residents of Nassau County,” said County Executive Mangano.

The two-building facility houses five Deco-Turf (hard courts) and five Har-Tru (Clay) courts and are available for year-round play.  The facility will open its doors in November with the completion of the Deco-Turf courts.  The second building, housing the Har-Tru courts is expected to open by January.

Christopher Morley Tennis will offer an array of tennis programs and services including: 10-and-under through high-performance programs, private and group lessons, men’s and women’s leagues, junior and adult programs, match play and seasonal court time.  The complex will also feature a lounge, locker rooms, pro shop, and an indoor conditioning and training area.

25 year-old, Jericho native, Cory Parr is the managing partner of Christopher Morley Tennis.  Parr was a three-time State Champion for Jericho High School and a three-time NCAA All American at Wake Forest University.  Following college, Parr competed on the ATP Tour. 

“Developing this new tennis facility not far from where I grew up is an exciting new chapter in my career,” said Parr.  “The game of tennis has been good to me.  I want to give young people the same confidence and sense of accomplishment that tennis has brought to my life.”

For more information please call: (516) 214-1900, or visit the website at: www.cmttennis.com.

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County Parks Begin Accepting Picnic Reservations

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announces that picnic reservations for the coming season may be made at Nassau County parks beginning in February. Reservations can be made for the following parks:

• Bay Park in East Rockaway (571- 7245).
• Cantiague Park in Hicksville (571-7056).
• Cedar Creek Park in Seaford (571-7470)
• Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills (571-8113).
• Cow Meadow Park in Freeport (571-8685); during winter, reservations taken at Rev. Arthur Mackey Sr. Park.
• Eisenhower Park in East Meadow; Special Activities Bldg., Parking Field No. 8 (572-0348).
• Grant Park in Hewlett (571-7821).
• Inwood Park (571-7894); reservations taken at North Woodmere Park.
• Rev. Arthur Mackey Sr. Park in Roosevelt (571-8692).
• Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach (571-7700).
• North Woodmere Park (571-7801).
• Wantagh Park (571-7460).

Reservations must be made in person at park locations, and a valid Leisure Pass and appropriate payment (fees depend upon group size) must be presented to obtain a confirmed reservation. Payment can be made by cash, check (made out to “Treasurer of Nassau County”) or credit card (at some locations). “Rain-or-shine” shelter areas are available at Cedar Creek Park, Rev. Arthur Mackey Sr. Park, Nickerson Beach Park and Wantagh Park.

County regulations require that 75% of all picnic participants be Nassau County residents. A special permit is required for the use of alcoholic beverages, and this permit must be purchased at least one week in advance of any reserved or unreserved picnic. To make catering arrangements, patrons must contact the park concessionaire, Dover Caterers, at 516-933-4444, ext. 12 or 16. Picnic reservations must be secured from the individual park before catering can be arranged.