Hempstead Lake State Park set for improvements

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $90 million would be put into the budget to help improve New York State Parks, including Hempstead Lake State Park.

The money will be split between 69 projects in 53 state parks. The projects will help improve or repair the parks. Hempstead Lake State Park will be receiving $1.25 million.

“As we celebrate Earth Day, we continue to invest in our parks and historic sites statewide,” Cuomo said in a release. “New York is proud to have the nation’s oldest state park system, and we will continue to do all that we can to preserve and guard these natural resources so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

According to Randy Simons, the public relations officer for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the improvements to Hempstead Lake State Park are still in the planning stages. But the state has already decided to make recreational improvements to the lakefront for fishing, trail use and other lakefront activities.

“We are also going to complete a thorough review of the park facilities and services we provide so we can enhance those facilities and services as well,” Simons said.

Hempstead Lake is one of many state parks to receive funding from the state. Robert Moses State Park will receive $5 million to rehabilitate the Field 5 swimming beach bathhouse. At the forefront of the Long Island revitalization is Jones Beach, which is getting $10 million for the first part of a multi-year, $65 million revitalization plan.