Belmont Lake State Park is a day-use
state park[ located in ]North Babylon, New York
North Babylon is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in the Town of Babylon in Suffolk County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 17,509 at the 2010 census.
Overview
North Baby ...
on Long Island.
History
Belmont Lake State Park was established in 1926 on land that was formerly part of the " Nursery Stud Farm", a Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
horse farm owned by August Belmont
August Belmont Sr. (born August Schönberg; December 8, 1813November 24, 1890) was a German-American financier, diplomat, politician and party chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and also a horse-breeder and racehorse owner. He wa ...
, namesake of the Belmont Stakes.[ The park served as the headquarters of the ]Long Island State Park Commission
The Long Island State Park Commission was created in 1924 by the New York State Legislature to build and operate parks and parkways on Long Island. Governor Al Smith was appointed as its first President, and Robert Moses, who had drafted the bill ...
and Long Island State Parkway Police from their founding in 1946 until their disbandment in 1977 and 1980, respectively. It now serves as the headquarters of the Long Island region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, as well as the New York State Park Police
The New York State Park Police (NYSPP), is the law enforcement agency of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Mission of the NYSPP
The New York State Park Police provides police services consistent with the O ...
.[
]
Park description
Belmont Lake State Park is a day-use park, featuring boating and picnicking facilities in addition to playing fields for popular sports. Two modern children's playgrounds are also available. Pedal boats, rowboats and kayaks can be rented at the boat dock during May through Columbus Day, times/days of the week vary, however swimming is never permitted. If you own a kayak, it can be launched ONLY when the boat dock is open and ONLY from the boat dock, free of charge. Boat fees are: Kayaks/$20.00 for 2 hours. Rowboats and Pedal Boats/$15.00 for 1 hour and a half. When the parking fee is in effect, that is $8.00 per vehicle.[
The park is located near the ]Southern State Parkway
The Southern State Parkway (also known as the Southern State or Southern Parkway; abbreviated as SO on signage) is a limited-access highway on Long Island, New York, in the United States. The parkway begins at an interchange with the Belt and C ...
at Exit 38. Bike and pedestrian entrances exist at several points around the perimeter which are free all year long. Although these entrance points are free, it is illegal to park along the roadway to access them.
Permits may be purchased at the Long Island State Park Headquarters, located on Belmont Avenue at Exit 37N.
The park also contains a bicycle path leading to Southards Pond and Argyle Lake in the Village of Babylon.Belmont Lake State Park to Argyle Lake, Babylon (Bicycling in New York: NYSDOT)
/ref>
See also
* List of New York state parks
References
External links
New York State Parks: Belmont Lake State Park
State parks of New York (state)
Babylon (town), New York
Robert Moses projects
Belmont family
Urban public parks
Parks in Suffolk County, New York
1926 establishments in New York (state)
Protected areas established in 1926
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