Press Release
June 27, 2019
George Gorman
george.gorman@parks.ny.gov
631-321-3403
State Parks Announces Reopening of Heckscher State Park Campground
New campground to offers prime access to boating, fishing on Great South Bay
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced a 69-site campground at Heckscher State Park in Suffolk County will open Friday, June 28. New York State is investing $500,000 in improvements to renovate and reopen the facility, which was taken out of service since 2010.
"Long Island offers some of the best outdoor recreational opportunities in the country, and the campground at Heckscher State Park offers another exciting destination," State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. "The campground will enhance Heckscher State Park's appeal to families and outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure along Long Island's shoreline. I encourage residents and visitors alike to take advantage of this new campground and start planning their next getaway right here in New York State."
The 69-site campground offers options for tents, trailers and recreational vehicles. Each site is equipped with a new picnic table and barbecue grill. State Parks is constructing a new 1,900-square-foot welcome center to house the campground check-in office, camp store, restrooms and space for park staff. Campground improvements also include new water fountains and accessible walkways.
In addition to the tent/trailer campground, Heckscher State Park offers 15 new vacation cottages, which first became available last year. Visitors can choose between one-bedroom units or two-bedroom with a loft and a two-bedroom unit with no loft. Each will feature a kitchenette, bathroom and screened-in porch furnished with sleeper sofa, dining table and chairs, Adirondack chairs, stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, toaster and basic kitchen necessities.
Camping reservations can be made on-line at http://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/ or by calling toll free 1-800-456-CAMP.
The 1,600 acres of Heckscher State Park on the south shore of Long Island are used by Park visitors for a number of outdoor activities; primarily, the park's shady picnic groves provide the idyllic setting for family and group picnic outings. Large open fields are used for soccer, cricket, lacrosse, and other field sports. The Park has four miles of paved, multi-use trails, boat launch, windsurf/paddleboard, kayak launch, and disc golf course. In addition to stunning views of the Great South Bay with Fire Island as the backdrop, visitors may observe whitetail deer, a variety of birds and other wildlife.
The $500,000 project was funded by Governor Cuomo's NY Parks 2020 initiative. NY Parks 2020 is a multi-year commitment to revitalize State Parks from 2011 to 2020. The 2019-20 state budget includes $110 million toward this initiative.