Out and About

It’s time to get out and about

Oceanside and Island feature a rich variety of parks and beaches for residents of all ages to enjoy from a safe social distance, and many eateries offered outdoor dining during the pandemic.

The Marine Nature Study Area is a 52-acre preserve of salt marshes, tidal creeks and uplands. The variety of plant and animal life makes it an ideal learning center for all ages.

Shell Creek Park, on Vanderbilt Avenue on Barnum Island, hosts a wide range of activities and facilities for children and adults. For the athlete, a pair of basketball and paddleball courts await. Additionally there are large playing fields for general use, and the park lends out equipment such as footballs, jump ropes and knock-hockey tables. A fully equipped playground is there for children, as well as a spray pool for frolicking. There is no fee to use the park. Only proof of residency is required.

Oceanside Park is a paradise for amateur athletes. Oceanside’s Little League, Sally League and the Babe Ruth League all play on the fields under normal circumstances, plus organized softball. There is also a rink for roller hockey, as well as handball, game tables, horseshoes, picnic tables, play areas, soccer and tennis. There is no fee to use the park facilities, and they are illuminated at night. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Oceanside pool features diving, wading and swimming areas. Teams and lessons are offered as well. Pool season passes are available for individuals and families, but the cost varies according to residency, and special rates are offered to the disabled as well as solder adults. The pool, also illuminated at night, is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Oceanside Schoolhouse Green has increasingly become a vital, living center for the Oceanside community, and is the sight of a summer outdoor reading program sponsored by the Oceanside Kiwanis Club, which continued virtually when the pandemic hit.

Island Park’s Masone Beach on Waterford Road is a quiet little bay beach, perfect for those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. Snacks and beverages are available for the beach’s patrons, and new to Masone are the Caroline Previdi Playground and a splash park for children during the summer.

Masone also hosts several summer events, the most popular of which is the Summer Concert Series.

Residents can also take advantage of Landgraf Park at the north end of Waterford Road, home of the new Kaboom Playground.