Governor Alfred E. Smith / Sunken Meadow State Park was
assembled from several smaller parcels but most of its original
area of 520 acres was acquired from the late George B. Lamb and
his wife, Antoinette Storrs Lamb. A large section of the beach consisting of about 400 feet of frontage on Long Island Sound was
conveyed to the State by the Town of Smithtown in 1928. Since then
the park has been expanded by various acquisitions to a- total of
over 1200 acres.
The park takes its name from the low meadowland which
separates the -narrow sandy beach from the uplands. Access
originally was by way of a quarter mile-long. boardwalk erected
on-stilts across the meadows and creek. Later big parking fields
and a modern bridge and roadway for automobiles were built.
Facilities and Services
Beach Bathing - on the Long Island Sound
Hiking Trails - including on the Greenbelt Trail
Bicycling
Picnic area facilities
Cross Country Skiing (as natural conditions permit)
Refreshment stands and cafeteria connected by a 314 mile
boardwalk
Golf Facilities
Three-9-Hole Golf Courses
Driving Range
Putting Green
Clubhouse (cafeteria)
Pro-shop and clubhouse open late March through late
November
6:00 AM Holidays
6:30 AM weekdays May through September
7:30 AM other weekdays
Last tee off approximately 1.5 hours before sunset
Programs and Events
Summer Run Series
Golf -Tournaments
Cross Country Ski Clinics
Model Airplane Show
Children's Summer Theater
H.S. & College cross country running
Park Operations
Park is open year-round-seven days a week, Sunrise to Sunset
Closed Mondays except Holidays
For group. outing (picnic) or youth (example - day camp) outing
applications, please call (516) 669-1000 ext. 223 or call the
park office at (516) 825-4128
Environmental Inforination
Besides providing a wide range of day use recreational
activities, Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park
also offers many opportunities for nature's observers. Along
with the three (3) miles of beach, the west end of the
shoreline meets with tall glacier formed bluffs. A man made
dam separates the park's brackish creek and marshes from the
tidal flats. The tidal flats and east end of the park
terminate at the mouth -of the Nissequogue River. South of the
creek and tidal flats are man7 acres of undeveloped and
heavily wooded rolling hills. This wide range in topography
allows a wide range of flora and fauna. A bird checklist is
available at the park office. The northern starting point of
the Suffolk county Greenbelt Trail begins with the wooden
footbridge over the creek.
Directions
L.I.
Expressway to exit 53. Take Sagtikos Parkway north. Sagtikos
Parkway becomes Sunken Meadow Parkway. Go all the way to the
toll-booths and look for the “Orienteering” signs.
Sunken Meadow State Park
PO Box 716
Kings Park, New York 11754
(516) 269-4333
