Heckscher Park

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Heckscher Park is a local town park and national historic district in Huntington, New York. It contains Crystal Lake, and is bounded by Main Street(25A), Prime Avenue, Madison Street and Sabbath Day Path. It is considered by many to be the 'Central Park' of Huntington.

The park was a gift to the people of Huntington, by the late financier & philanthropist August Heckscher and his wife Nannie A. Heckscher. It is home to the Heckscher Museum of Art (established by August Heckscher), which is one of the focal points for culture, education and social activity in Huntington. The park passed from the Heckscher Trust to the Town of Huntington in 1954, and has been under town stewardship for more than a half century.

The park is also home to the Chapin Rainbow Outdoor Stage (named for famed Long Island musician Harry Chapin). This outdoor amphitheater hosts the Annual Huntington Summer Arts Festival, presented by the Huntington Arts Council in cooperation with the Town. First presented in 1966, this popular summer program offers free performances by local and international artists every Tuesday through Sunday evening from late June through early August. In addition to the Summer Arts Festival and other Town programs, the Chapin Stage also hosts a variety of other performance events presented by various community groups that rent this facility at other times of the year. In addition to the stage shows, the park also hosts the annual tulip festival, fall festival, and numerous other festivals and craft fairs.

Amenities of the park include rest rooms, several fountains, a 9-11 memorial, 1 bocce court, model sail boating, a playground, lighted ball playing Field, 4 lighted tennis courts, sculpture gardens, and a 1/3 mile jogging path loop around the lake with several docks. The park is also popular for nature study, and has many opportunities to view the varied plants and wildlife around the park's lake. Another great feature of the park is the historic stone gazebo with its famed echo, known as the 'Echo House'.
The park has a rich history, as can be seen in the following link...

huntingtonhistory.com/2017/09/11/mr-heckschers-most-gen...