If you're looking to buy in Island Park
Seasonal concerts, annual festivals and waterside restaurants are draws to Island Park. Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan
THE SCOOP Like many other waterside communities, Island Park buzzes this time of year. "Summertime is a busy time," says Mayor James Ruzicka. Masone Beach, where seasonal concerts are staged, is a popular draw, as are waterside
restaurants, such as Coyote Grill, Paddy McGees and Montego Bay, adds resident Nuala Elges of Weichert Realtors Hastava.
Island Park is composed of three communities: The Village of Island Park is nestled between the hamlets of Harbor Isle to the west and Barnum Island to the east. "It's three parts, but we are all one," says Michael Scully, a resident and broker-owner of Century 21 Scully Realty.
Residents have access to a downtown along Long Beach Road, where the train station and the renovated Island Park Public Library are situated.
House buyers can find ranch styles, Capes, Colonials and Contemporaries priced from $309,000 to about $1.5 million. A smattering on the waterfront can command up to $1.9 million, Scully says, adding that the National Grid facility on the outskirts of Island Park helps subsidize the school tax.
Folks who grew up here tend to stay. "It's a very homey town," Elges says.
CONDOS AND TOWN HOUSES From the mid $200,000s to the $600,000s.
SALES PRICE Since July 2009, there were 53 sales with a median price of $370,000, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low price was $105,000; the high was $980,000. From June 2008 to June 2009, there were 52 sales with a median price of $403,250. The low was $200,000 and the high $785,000.
ATTRACTIONS A concert followed by Grucci fireworks will be held Sept. 4 at Masone Beach. The annual Greek and San Gennaro festivals. Parks include Shell Creek in Barnum Isle.
OTHER STATS
Town: Hempstead
Area: Island Park Village, 0.4 square mile; Barnum Isle, 0.9 square mile; Harbor Isle, 1.75 square miles, according to the Town of Hempstead.
ZIP code: 11558
Population: Village, 4,328; Barnum Isle, 2,295; Harbor Isle, 1,216
Median age: Village, 41.8; Barnum Isle, 46.4; Harbor Isle, 45.7
Median household income: Village, $69,960; Barnum Isle, $96,260; Harbor Isle, $108,929
Median home value: $327,500*
Median age of homes: 46
Percent owning home: 70.4
Percent renting home: 27.9
LIRR time to NYC: 47 to 53 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $232
School districts: Island Park. For high school, students have a choice between West Hempstead or Long Beach.
SOURCES: Claritas 2009; www.mlsli.com; LIRR
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island
