You’re driving down the Meadowbrook State Parkway in Merrick, Long Island, and you see a massive hill. It’s green. It’s oddly symmetrical. Most people just think it’s a nice bit of landscaping, but the reality of Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve is way more interesting than just a place to walk your dog or take a few photos for the 'gram. It’s a literal trash-to-treasure story. Seriously. This 52-acre sanctuary used to be the Merrick Landfill.
Imagine millions of tons of municipal waste sitting right next to the Merrick Bay. Not exactly a vacation spot. But since opening in 2000, it has become one of the most unique coastal ecosystems in New York. It’s a weird, beautiful hybrid of industrial engineering and pure nature.
The Engineering Magic Under Your Feet
When you’re hiking up the 115-foot summit, you aren't just walking on dirt. You’re walking on a complex "cap" designed to keep the old landfill from leaking into the surrounding marshland. It's kinda wild when you think about it. Underneath the grass and the trails, there’s a multi-layer system of synthetic liners and clay.
The park uses a methane recovery system. This isn't just for safety; they actually harvest the gas produced by the decomposing waste underground to power the facility’s needs. It's self-sustaining in a way that most modern parks can't claim.
Most people come for the views, but the water management is the real MVP here. There are two man-made ponds—the upper and lower ponds—that are part of a recirculating aeration system. They look like natural features where you might spot a turtle or a heron, but they’re actually hard at work filtering and oxygenating water.
Why the Goats Are Actually Employees
If you visit Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve during the warmer months, you’re going to see goats. They aren't just there for a petting zoo vibe. They have a job. The park employs a herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats to handle weed control.
Think about the terrain for a second. It’s a steep, artificial hill. Taking a traditional lawnmower up those slopes is dangerous and uses a ton of gas. The goats? They love it. They eat the invasive species like porcelain berry and mugwort that would otherwise choke out the native plants. It’s a low-carbon footprint solution that honestly makes the park feel a lot more alive than your average suburban green space. Plus, they're just fun to watch while you're catching your breath on the way up.
The 360-Degree View Nobody Expects
Let's talk about the summit. It is 115 feet above sea level. That might not sound like much if you’re from Colorado, but on the flat South Shore of Long Island? It’s basically Everest.
On a clear day, you can see the Manhattan skyline. You can see the Jones Beach Water Tower. You can see the Great South Bay stretching out toward the horizon. It’s one of the few places in Nassau County where you can get a true bird's-eye view of the coastal geography.
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- The North view gives you a look at the suburban sprawl of Merrick and Bellmore.
- To the South, it’s all salt marshes and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Westward, the skyscrapers of NYC pop up like tiny gray teeth on the horizon.
Birdwatching and Biodiversity
Because the park is situated right on the Atlantic Flyway, it’s a massive pit stop for migratory birds. It's not just ducks and seagulls. You’ll see Osprey nesting on the platforms specifically built for them. You might see a Northern Harrier hunting over the marshes.
The transition from the "mound" of the park to the surrounding tidal wetlands creates a "buffer zone" that is incredibly rare in heavily developed areas. You have the freshwater ponds on the hill and the saltwater marshes at the base. This duality means you get a mix of species that usually don't hang out in the same 50-acre radius.
The Pier and the Kayak Launch
Down at the base of the hill, there’s a 500-foot fishing pier that extends into Merrick Bay. It’s a quiet spot. Most of the "exercise" crowd stays on the trails, so the pier is usually where you find the people who just want to stare at the water.
There is also a kayak launch. If you have your own boat, this is one of the best entry points to explore the marshes of the South Shore. Navigating through the narrow channels of the salt marsh at high tide is a completely different experience than looking at them from the top of the hill. You see the ribbed mussels, the fiddler crabs, and the way the cordgrass sways in the current.
Practical Realities of Visiting
Honestly, don't just show up at 5:00 PM expecting to wander around. The park has very strict hours because it’s gated. Since it’s a sensitive environmental site (and still technically a monitored landfill site), the Town of Hempstead keeps a close eye on the clock.
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- Check the season. Hours change significantly between winter and summer.
- Bring water. There aren't vending machines at the top of a 115-foot hill.
- Wear actual shoes. The trails are well-maintained with crushed stone and wood chips, but it’s an incline. Your flip-flops will hate you.
- Leave the dog at home. This is a big one that catches people off guard. Because of the wildlife and the working goats, dogs aren't allowed in the preserve.
The Social and Environmental Legacy
Norman J. Levy was a New York State Senator who was huge on transportation and the environment. Naming this place after him makes sense because the park is basically at the intersection of those two things. It’s right off a major parkway, yet it functions as a lung for the surrounding community.
There’s a misconception that "restored" land is somehow "fake" nature. I disagree. What happened at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve is a form of environmental reconciliation. We took a giant pile of trash that was polluting the air and the water, capped it, and turned it into a habitat that supports hundreds of species.
It serves as a model for what we can do with the thousands of other closed landfills across the country. Instead of leaving them as fenced-off eyesores, we can turn them into recreational hubs.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re planning a trip, don't just walk the main loop. Take the "fitness trail" if you want a workout—it has stations along the way for pull-ups and stretches—but if you’re there for the soul of the place, head straight for the pier first. Starting at the water level gives you a better appreciation for the height of the hill once you reach the top.
Look for the sundial at the summit. It’s a giant, functional piece of art that uses your own shadow to tell the time. It’s a cool reminder of our place in the larger system.
When you leave, take the Meadowbrook South toward Jones Beach. You’ll see the park in your rearview mirror—a big, green anomaly in the landscape. It's a reminder that even our biggest ecological mistakes can be fixed if we’re willing to put in the engineering and the time.
Pack a pair of binoculars, check the wind direction (it gets breezy up there!), and give yourself at least two hours to really see the whole thing. It’s not just a park; it’s a 52-acre proof of concept that we can actually have nice things if we try hard enough._
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Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Tide: If you're planning to use the kayak launch, aim for high tide to avoid getting stuck in the mud flats of Merrick Bay.
- Call the Ranger Station: If you are bringing a large group or want to know if the goats are currently out on the trails, a quick call to the Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways can save you a trip.
- Coordinate with Jones Beach: Since you're already right there, combine your hike with a trip to the West End of Jones Beach for a full day of coastal exploration.