Living in West Hempstead

Look what’s Happening

February

Photo by Christina Daly/Herald West Hempstead-based group Drive Out Hunger holds numerous food drives throughout the year.

May

Photo by Sue Grieco/Herald Residents annually take part in the civic association’s cleanup at Hall’s Pond Park.

NOVeMber LIVING IN West Hempstead

West Hempstead is a Nassau County hamlet rich with history, parks, numerous public transportation options and other amenities that have been drawing residents and businesses to the area for years.

The hamlet has several business districts, including Hempstead Avenue, Woodfield Road and Hempstead Turnpike, all of which offer a mosaic of different restaurants, convenience stores and more that reflect the diverse needs and interests of residents. The area has a strong Orthodox Jewish community, as well as many residents from Western Europe and other areas across the globe.

One of the hamlet’s many gems is Hall’s Pond Park, the county’s 11-acre retreat, which is the largest in West Hempstead, at the corner of Nassau Boulevard and Hempstead Avenue. The park includes a duck pond, playground and walking paths, which attract children and adults, and is a gathering place for events hosted by the West Hempstead Community Support Association, the West Hempstead Lions Club, the Police Athletic League and many more. The centuryold Hempstead Lake State Park is another hamlet treasure, with tennis and basketball courts, horse trails, fishing ponds, a new playground and a carousel.

Echo Park, which offers indoor and outdoor pools, a diving pool, saunas and a fitness center, is located on Nassau Boulevard and is open to town residents. In 2018, the town renovated the park as part of its refurbishment project.

New York Equestrian Center, on Eagle Avenue near Hempstead Lake State Park, offers escorted trail rides in the park, indoor lessons, horse boarding and other services, and is home to the only physical therapy business for horses on Long Island.

Another of the hamlet’s main gathering hubs is the West Hempstead Public Library, which offers programs for all ages throughout the year in its lower level community rooms. The library transitioned to virtual programs in March 2020 with plans to resume inperson activities this fall.

There are five public schools in West Hempstead: a high school, a middle school, an intermediate school, a primary school and a kindergarten center. The hamlet is also home to the Gersh Academy, a school for children on the autism spectrum, and several parochial schools.