Heckscher State Park
Encyclopedia
Heckscher State Park is a park on the shore of the Great South Bay
at East Islip
in Suffolk County, New York
, USA. The park was 1469 acres (5.9 km²) that was once the 19th century estates of George C. Taylor and J. Neal Plum. Islip's founder, William Nicoll, originally built his estate on this property. The park was purchased by the State of New York using a donation by the affluent August Heckscher
with strong opposition from wealthy local residents.
Heckscher offers a beach, picnic tables with pavilions, a playground and playing fields, recreation programs, hiking and biking, fishing, a campground with tent and trailer sites, cross-country skiing, a boat launch, an olympic sized swimming pool, and a food concession.
Heckscher State Park is known as the "Home of the White-tailed Deer
." In fact, deer are fairly populous throughout the park.
The park falls within the district protected by the Great River Fire Department
. The park is accessible by the Heckscher State Parkway
.
Beginning in 1972 and continuing until 2008, the New York Philharmonic
played at Heckscher State Park as part of its free "Concerts in the Parks" series. The annual event was held on summer evenings in an open field near the campground and was open to the public. In 2009, the New York Philharmonic chose to cancel the event for the summer of that year due to financial constraints. After consideration to keep the tradition, the Long Island Philharmonic
volunteered to perform. Ultimately, the Long Island Philharmonic was forced to cancel their plans as well, as a deadlock in the state senate prevented funds from being allocated to the event. The following year, the New York Philharmonic again chose not to perform. This time, however, the Long Island Philharmonic was able to put on a successful performance. The new generation of concerts commenced with a theme of American composers, including George Gershwin
, Leonard Bernstein
, John Phillip Sousa, John Williams
, and Billy Joel
. Whereas the New York Philharmonic typically played longer pieces in their entirety, the Long Island Philharmonic played a multitude of shorter pieces and excerpts.
Great South Bay
Great South Bay is a lagoon situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.Robert Moses Causeway adjoins...
at East Islip
East Islip, New York
East Islip is a hamlet and CDP in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, . At the time of the 2000 census, the CDP had 4,578 households and a population of 14,078.-History and overview:...
in Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, USA. The park was 1469 acres (5.9 km²) that was once the 19th century estates of George C. Taylor and J. Neal Plum. Islip's founder, William Nicoll, originally built his estate on this property. The park was purchased by the State of New York using a donation by the affluent August Heckscher
August Heckscher
-Biography:Born in Hamburg, Germany, Heckscher emigrated to the United States in 1867. He initially worked in his cousin Richard Heckscher's coal mining operation as a laborer, studying English at night. Several years later he formed a partnership with his cousin under the name of Richard Heckscher...
with strong opposition from wealthy local residents.
Heckscher offers a beach, picnic tables with pavilions, a playground and playing fields, recreation programs, hiking and biking, fishing, a campground with tent and trailer sites, cross-country skiing, a boat launch, an olympic sized swimming pool, and a food concession.
Heckscher State Park is known as the "Home of the White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
." In fact, deer are fairly populous throughout the park.
The park falls within the district protected by the Great River Fire Department
Great River Fire Department
The Great River Fire Department is a volunteer fire department, located in Great River, NY on Long Island in Suffolk County. GRFD is part of the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services system with call numbers 3-9-0. The department headquarters is located on River Road in front of Timber...
. The park is accessible by the Heckscher State Parkway
Heckscher State Parkway
The Heckscher State Parkway is an long parkway in Suffolk County, New York. The western terminus is at the Sagtikos State Parkway in West Islip, where it continues west as the Southern State Parkway. The eastern terminus is at the entrance to Heckscher State Park in Great River...
.
Beginning in 1972 and continuing until 2008, the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
played at Heckscher State Park as part of its free "Concerts in the Parks" series. The annual event was held on summer evenings in an open field near the campground and was open to the public. In 2009, the New York Philharmonic chose to cancel the event for the summer of that year due to financial constraints. After consideration to keep the tradition, the Long Island Philharmonic
Long Island Philharmonic
The Long Island Philharmonic, based in Melville, New York was founded in 1979 by folk singer Harry Chapin, Maestro Christopher Keene, and a group of Long Island's major community and business leaders...
volunteered to perform. Ultimately, the Long Island Philharmonic was forced to cancel their plans as well, as a deadlock in the state senate prevented funds from being allocated to the event. The following year, the New York Philharmonic again chose not to perform. This time, however, the Long Island Philharmonic was able to put on a successful performance. The new generation of concerts commenced with a theme of American composers, including George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, John Phillip Sousa, John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
, and Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
. Whereas the New York Philharmonic typically played longer pieces in their entirety, the Long Island Philharmonic played a multitude of shorter pieces and excerpts.
See also
- The Long Island Greenbelt Trail starts its 31-mile route in Heckscher State Park. It ends in Sunken Meadow State ParkSunken Meadow State ParkGovernor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park and Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park Beach are located in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York in the USA on the North Shore of Long Island...
.