The Hempstead Harbor Trail is one step closer to becoming one mile longer after town officials broke ground on an extension project last Wednesday .
With the addition, the trail that begins at North Hempstead Beach Park and runs south along West Shore Road will continue south of the beach park, southeast along the Hempstead Harbor shoreline and end just south of Harbor Park Drive S.
The nature trail was most recently extended by a mile in May 2015 in a 10-year effort to lengthen the trail, which was a quarter-mile long when it first opened.
“North Hempstead residents should be lacing up their hiking boots because this next extension of the Hempstead Harbor Trail is going to make our trail one of the longest continuous trails in Nassau County,” said North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth.
She said in the future the town could extend the trail into downtown Roslyn and continue up into Glenwood Landing.
Funds were budgeted for the trail extension in North Hempstead’s 2019-23 capital plan. The expansion is projected to cost $1.1 million, of which $450,000 is paid for with a state grant.
Galvin Brothers Inc. and Madhue Contracting Inc. are constructing the extension of the trail, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“Hempstead Harbor is fortunate not only to have a good portion of its shores publicly owned, but to have several waterfront trails,” said Eric Swenson, executive director of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee. “The crown jewel of these trails is the Town of North Hempstead’s Shoreline Trail, which provides breathtaking views of the lower harbor, its wildlife and historic sites.”
