Tag Archives: Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Feature Photo: Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny - an Eastern Cottontail that's a member of the Sulvilagus genus - is eating weeds, hopping, and sitting at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring afternoon through dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve is Hopping this Spring

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
May 22, 2025  

Norman J Levy Park & Preserve hours: May to August: 7 am – 7:30 pm

Spring at Merrick park on L.I.’s South Shore

On Monday, I went to Norman J Levy Park & Preserve for the first time this spring. The main parking lot was full, likely thanks to the cool, pleasant weather and the end of the spring semester for most U.S. colleges.

• Meadow Brook Creek

The creek looked mystical as dusk approached, with tall reeds (Phragmites and Typha laxmannii) glowing golden wherever direct sunlight touched them.

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. Visitors take path to the creek lined with reeds at Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve as dusk approaches. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

• Eastern cottontail rabbits

A very young bunny and an older one – Eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) – caught my attention on the lawn near the park’s ranger station. Being more used to seeing people than the wild rabbits at my home front and backyards are, these bunnies didn’t immediately hop far away.

Because I captured the images below with a NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens, they’re detailed and sharp but strongly cropped. My NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens would be a useful addition for future visits.

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny, an Eastern cottontail rabbit, isn’t much bigger than the weeds it’s eating at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring day. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny, an Eastern Cottontail rabbit, is hopping across the mowed lawn at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring day. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit and bee are crossing paths at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring day. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit is looking around at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit is looking around at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This Eastern cottontail rabbit is hopping across the lawn at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve during a pleasant spring dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

• selfie

“Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. Ann Parry captures iPhone selfie by creek at Norman J. Levy Park & Preserve at dusk. (© 2025 Ann Parry, annparry.com)

• FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post): Merrick, New York, U.S. May 19, 2025. This wild bunny – an Eastern Cottontail that’s a member of the Sulvilagus genus – lives at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve.

Norman J Levy Park & Preserve Memorial Day:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Town of Hempstead:  Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

CONTACT ME

Angel with spread wings from behind, at Norman Levy Park & Preserve, © 2010 Ann Parry, annparry.com

2017 Members Showtime Reception, Huntington Arts Council

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
May 30, 2017

Huntington Arts Council’s Members Showtime Reception

Friday night, our long Memorial Day Weekend started with good weather and great art at Huntington Arts Council’s Reception for its 2017 Artist Members Show.

I enjoyed seeing the art of many of my fellow Long Island artists, and quite a few of the artists themselves.The previous art show I participated in mainly featured my editorial photography, so for this show I chose “Angel at Dusk” – one of my creative portraits – captured during a summer photo shoot with my niece Elizabeth at Norman J Levy Park & Preserve.

VIDEO: Photographers  Susan Tiffen and Pamela Waldroup, each posing by her work, are included in this video captured at the end of HAC’s Reception:


The Huntington Arts Council  Artist Members Show runs from May 26 through June 17.  Gallery hours are  Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday 12 – 4 p.m.

CONTACT ME

Merrick, New York, USA. May 24, 2015. Two Kayakers paddle around fishing pier at Levy Park on Memorial Day Weekend (c) 2015 Ann Parry

Memorial Day Weekend at Levy Park 2015

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
May 28, 2015

Around 3:30 the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, I went to Norman J Levy Park & Preserve. After parking in the crowded parking lot, I headed to the path with the sign “Shortest Way to Top” – since I hoped to get a hilltop view of the Bethpage New York Air Show in progress at nearby Jones Beach.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 24, 2015. At Norman J Levy Park & Preserve, visitor point south to contrails in the sky over Jones Beach where planes are performing in the Bethpage New York Air Show, Memorial Day Weekend.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, New York, USA. May 24, 2015. At Norman J Levy Park & Preserve, visitor point south to contrails in the sky over Jones Beach where planes are performing in the Bethpage New York Air Show, Memorial Day Weekend. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Earlier that day, I heard that Jones Beach filled to capacity before the air show even started, so major roads leading there were closed. So I wasn’t surprised to see groups of people scattered throughout the hilltop and pointing south to where planes were leaving contrails in the sky. The performers, too distant from Levy Park to identify, included Thunderbirds, Golden Knights, and GEICO SkyWriters, and more.

Merrick, New York, USA. May 24, 2015. Rev. DAVID YI, of Douglaston, Queens, fishes on the pier of Levy Park & Preserve during Memorial Day Weekend.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com) 

Merrick, New York, USA. May 24, 2015. Rev. DAVID YI, of Douglaston, Queens, fishes on the pier of Levy Park & Preserve during Memorial Day Weekend.  (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com) 

When the show ended, I headed south on the winding trail leading down to the park’s fishing pier.

At the far end of the 500-foot-long wooden pier, I enjoyed the cool breeze and watched kayakers in Merrick Bay, and chatted with fellow visitors Rev. DAVID YI and his parishioners. They had planned to fish at Jones Beach, but finding Meadowbrook Parkway closed, cast their reels at South Merrick’s Levy Park instead.

Memorial Day Weekend 2015:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Site:  Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park

CONTACT ME