New Hyde Park, NY

Located on Long Island in Nassau County, New Hyde Park is a village with a population of about 9,200 residents. The first settlers were of English and Dutch descent, and the village was simply called Hyde Park by the Dutch in 1624. Because there was another Hyde Park in upstate New York, the Nassau County city officially changed its named to New Hyde Park in 1871.

The town saw an influx German, Irish, Polish and Italian residents, followed by Jewish families in the 1900s. New Hyde park now has a mixture of ethnic cultures, and much of the town has Italian or Irish ancestry. Approximately 63 percent of residents are married couples with children. This area is renowned for its excellent education system. The village is primarily a commuter town with more than 78 percent of residents traveling to the New York metropolitan area for work.

The village is close to the villages of Mineola, Garden City, Stewart Manor and Floral Par. Some places outside the official boundary are often referred to as being in New Hyde Park, including a section of Queens, New York City.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city of New Hyde Park is all urban. Neighborhoods and districts of New Hyde Park accommodate around 3,300 houses, out of which more than 3,200 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, more than 80 percent are owner-occupied, while renters occupy the remaining 20 percent. The median home price in New Hyde Park is much higher than the statewide median.

The majority of land in New Hyde Park is used for residences, mostly houses, though a small number of apartments do exist. The area near the New Hyde Park Station contains a number of warehouses and manufacturing plants. New Hyde Park also has a small shopping district.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

New Hyde Park has an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent. The average salary for jobs and the median income of households in New Hyde Park is above the state average. Some of the most common industries for the residents of New Hyde Park include education, health and social services, and retail trade. Some of the largest employers include Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Forest Hills Hospital, Kimco Realty Corp. and Pathmark.

GOVERNMENT

The village of New Hyde Park is governed by a mayor-council consisting of a mayor and four trustees. The village of New Hyde Park also has a Village Justice and an Associate Village Justice, a section of government outlined in the village law. The Village Justice must be a resident of the village and is elected to a four-year term. The Associate Justice may reside outside of the village and is annually appointed to hold office.

The Village Court of New Hyde Park meets at board meetings at least twice a month where proposed legislation is presented to the public at advertised public hearings.

EVENTS

• Holiday Tree Lighting: Sponsored by the State Bank of Long Island, the annual Holiday Tree Lighting is a community event held by Marcus Christ Community Center on the lawn of Village Hall. The event features a grandiose collection of lights that is displayed throughout the village.
• Village Street Fair: Held in September, the annual Village Street Fair is a community event that features arts and crafts, clothing and food from Long Island merchants. Sidewalk space is offered free of charge to charities and to local storeowners whose businesses are outside the boundaries of the fair.
• Beautification Committee Fall Planting and Decorating: Sponsored by the Beautification Committee, this decorating event brings together volunteers from New Hyde Park to plant flowers and decorate the village during the fall harvest season.
• Farmers Market: Held from April until October, the Farmers Market sells produce and other foods from local farms.

COMMUNITIES

• The New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce: A volunteer organization, the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce is a source of information for business owners and prospective business owners in New Hyde Park. The Chamber of Commerce services both large and small companies with permits, loans, real estate and other kinds of business-related assistance. The New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce also helps in promoting local businesses and events through free community announcements.
• Cultural Commission of the Village of New Hyde Park: This organization is designed to attend and service the needs of New Hyde Park by providing social, cultural and educational programs. The Cultural Commission of the Village of New Hyde Park aims to create a tight-knit community within New Hyde Park.
• Hillside Public Library is a state-of-the-art facility. This library features an extensive collection of books, periodicals and audiovisual resources. The library also offers educational workshops and classes for children, teenagers and adults. Offerings include exercise classes, a book club, art classes, English speaking workshops, homework assistance, computer classes, tax assistance and career-building workshops.

FAMILY FUN

• Nuzzi Field: Located on Stewart Avenue at the Village Line, Nuzzi Park is a newly refurbished playground with new slides, swings, step climbers and a rock-climbing wall. The renovation also brought in new benches, trash receptacles and tables. The park has a playing field that is used for Little League and amateur baseball games.
• Memorial Park: Located on Lincoln Avenue, Memorial Park features an encased protective shell to shield residents from the sun or rain. The park also has basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, tennis courts and a memorial site for the veterans who died during various wars.

GETTING AROUND

For car travelers, New Hyde Park is located near the Long Island Expressway, Grand Central-Northern State Parkway, Union Turnpike and Northern Boulevard.

For bus travelers, New Hyde Park can be reached via the North Shore Towers Express Bus and the Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority from Manhattan. For local bus transportation, residents of the village of New Hyde Park use the City Line bus system.

By train, New Hyde Park is located approximately 40 to 50 minutes from New York City's Penn on the Long Island Railroad.