Eisenhower Park
Eisenhower Park, formerly known as Salisbury Park, is a
History
Part of the county park system since 1944, Eisenhower Park offers a full range of athletic and family activities, including some of the finest facilities in Nassau County and an exciting schedule of summertime events.
In the early part of the 20th century, the park was part of the private Salisbury Country Club and included five 18-hole golf courses. It hosted the ninth PGA Championship in 1926, then a match play competition. Walter Hagen defeated future two-time champion Leo Diegel 5 & 3 in the finals to win his third consecutive title,[1] his fourth overall, and the eighth of his eleven major titles. The championship was conducted on the present-day Red Course.
During the Great Depression, the club's owners were unable to pay taxes and the county took over the property. Subsequently, the county acquired additional land in the area. In 1944, Nassau County Park at Salisbury was established as part of County Executive J. Russell Sprague's vision to create a park that "one day will be to Nassau County what Central Park is today to New York City." [citation needed] Salisbury Park was officially dedicated on October 1, 1949.[2]
On October 13, 1969, Salisbury Park was rededicated as Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Park at a ceremony attended by the 34th President's grandson, Dwight D. Eisenhower II, and his wife, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. The elder Eisenhower had died several months earlier in March and would have turned age 79 on October 14.[citation needed]
On March 11, 2004, President
On September 9, 2007, the memorial was officially opened to the public. The two 30-foot (9 m), semi-transparent, stainless-steel towers, created to resemble those of the World Trade Center[citation needed], stand amidst a fountain alongside the park's lake. On the lawn are two pieces of steel several feet long from the WTC wreckage, surrounded by a colorful flower garden. A long stone wall bears the names of the 344 Nassau County residents who died September 11, 2001.[citation needed]
Nearby, a plaque honoring those who were killed in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania begins Our Story and reads that the events that transpired that day ultimately changed the lives of all Americans.
The memorial, which culminated five years of planning, was designed by the architects Keith Striga of Valley Stream and Philip Gavosto of Glen Cove. To help build it, more than 500 union members from Long Island trades volunteered time and materials.[citation needed]
Activities in the park
Athletics
- Batting cage, with nine separate batting areas for varying pitching speeds
- 14 softball fields
- 3 baseball fields
- 3 football fields
- 4 soccer fields
- 16 lighted tennis courts
- A 50 m (55 yd) Aquatic Center swimming pool
Cricket
An agreement has been reached for the construction of a 34,000-seat modular stadium to host the 2024 T20 World Cup.[4]
Entertainment
The
Carltun on the Park is a privately run restaurant operated in a former country club. The Carltun offers a restaurant, bar, banquet facilities, and a meeting room. The restaurant has played host to numerous events, including a fundraiser in 2004 for George W. Bush.[7] The facility was renamed "The Lannin" in honor of Joseph Lannin, who created the Salisbury Country Club in 1917.[8]
Golf
The park features three 18-hole golf courses open to the public: the Blue, Red, and White courses. The Red Course, originally part of the Salisbury Golf Club and designed in 1914 by
Located adjacent to the courses is a driving range with more than 100 stalls and night hours in season.[citation needed]
In addition to the regular courses, there are two lighted 18-hole miniature golf courses.[citation needed]
Swimming
The Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park is one of the finest swimming facilities in the U.S. Built in 1998 for the Goodwill Games, it currently hosts major swimming competitions and is open daily to the public.
Located within the center is a renovated
Hockey
Northwell Health Ice Center has been the practice facility for the New York Islanders since 2016. It was formerly known as Twin Rinks when it opened in 2014.[10][11]
References
- ^ Vischer, Peter (September 26, 1926). "Walter Hagen beats Diegel for pro title". Miami Daily News. New York World News Service. p. 15.
- ^ "New Nassau Park Unwrapped". Daily News. New York. October 2, 1949. p. 28. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Buglione, Nick (March 18, 2004). "Bush breaks ground President visits East Meadow for solemn memorial, fundraiser". Long Island Herald. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Three USA venues locked in for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024". www.icc-cricket.com. 2023-09-20. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre". Discover Long Island. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018.
- ^ "Theater Named For Harry Chapin". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 24, 1981. p. B2.
- ^ Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Madore, James T. (June 27, 2023). "Reopening of former Carltun Eisenhower Park catering hall delayed until late July". Newsday. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "The Red Course at Eisenhower Park". PGATOUR.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-12. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ LaRocco, Paul (August 31, 2015). "Islanders owner wins bid to take over bankrupt ice rink". Newsday. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Hackmack, Andrew (January 27, 2016). "Islanders to keep Long Island connection". Long Island Herald. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
External links
- Official website
- Nassau County 9/11 memorial Images From the Project Architects
- Nassaucountyny.gov/EisenhowerPark
- Nassau County 9/11 Memorial Photo- Located at Eisenhower Park
- Eisenhower Park Golf Course - LongIslandGolfNews.com