Address
eisenhower Park, Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, NY 11554
Phone Number
(516) 572-0501
Date Visited
07/02/2016
Website
Nassau County Aquatic Center
Description
The Nassau County Aquatic Center is located in Eisenhower Park. The southern Merrick Avenue entrance goes directly to the Center. An entire section of the paved lot is set aside for handicapped-accessible parking.There is both a lower and upper entrance. Spectator viewing is on the upper level. A concrete ramp gets one to the double-doors, entryway, and another set of doors. If you enter on the lower level, there is an elevator to the upper.
Floors are concrete. The hallway to the seating area is wide, with bench seating around the perimeter. Once inside the viewing area, one can go up stairs to the bench seats (there are handrails), one can go down several steps to the first two rows of seating, or not need any steps to get to the third row of seating. A large wheelchair seating area is easily accessed from one of the entry doors (ask an attendant). A large snack-bar was open in the hallway.
Large, multi-stall, handicapped-accessible restrooms have baby-changing stations.
- Attraction Type: kid friendly, popular places
Surface of lot: paved
Distance to venue: close
Transportation to venue offered: na
Terrain: flat
Places to rest: benches at top of ramp
Paths and walkways: concrete
Doors: double doors, entryway, double doors
Number of floors: 2
Elevators: 1
Ramps: two
Steps and staircases: inside, to upper level
Width of aisles: ample
Places to sit: **
Location of restrooms: hallway
Type of restroom: large, multi-stall, handicapped-accessible
Ease of entry and exit: OK
Baby changing station: yes
Available food services: large snack bar was open
Friendliness of staff: everyone was quit pleasant
Notes: * There is a separate handicapped-parking area.** There is a large wheelchair seating area. At other locations one can walk up steps to seating (handrails), one can walk down several steps to first and second row seating, one does not need any steps to access row 3.
Once again something in “Newsday” caught my eye and sent me on an adventure. The small article told of the “2016 Junior Synchronized Swimming Championships” taking place at the Nassau County Aquatic Center. I fondly remember synchronized swimming from my youth, aquatic shows every summer at what is now the “Jones Beach Theater,” and movies starring Esther Williams. I LOVED them all! Now I had an opportunity to see it once again. Saturday was the only day I had. As it turned out, Saturday was the finals so I got to see the best.
The Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park, is an enormous 80,000 square foot venue that was built in 1998 for the International Goodwill Games (website).
Parking was close to the ramp to the building, with an entire area of handicapped spaces. There is an upper and lower entrance. As a spectator, the upper level is the place to go. A concrete ramp leads to double doors, an entryway and another set of doors. If you enter at the lower there is an elevator to get you up. I came to the admission desk, purchased my ticket and made my way down the concrete hallway, past a large snack bar to one of the doors to the viewing area. Once inside I had a choice, steps (with a handrail) up to most rows, steps down to the first two rows or, one row of bench seating that did not require any further steps. A large wheelchair seating area is easily accessed from one of the doors (ask an attendant). Since there were not a lot of people I had my choice of seats. Most of the spectators seemed to be friends and family of the athletes who had come from all over the country for this event. You can imagine how loud the well-deserved cheering was.
As I watched the duet and team finals I was taken back in time. I remembered how much I had loved it then. I still love it. These young women did a spectacular job. As a child I did not know how much work goes into what they do. I just knew that I loved it. As an adult I can appreciate it as well as love it.
Large, multi-stall, handicapped-accessible restrooms (with baby-changing stations) are located in the hallway.
As always, we at Destination Accessible, advise you to check a venue’s website, www.nassaucountyny.gov, when planning a visit , to “know before you go.”
Contact us