Avalon Nature Preserve is a nice place to go hiking. I've always enjoyed being outdoors, taking in…read morethe scenery, listening to the birds, and meeting others who share my love for mini adventures. Upon arriving, my husband and I parked in the Forest parking lot, which had ample parking spaces and a map, laying out available trail options. We began with the Hilltop Meadow, which we completed fairly quickly. After, we thought we'd challenge ourselves a bit more by taking on the Forest Sanctuary. We enjoyed this trail, although we sometimes had to look over our shoulders to investigate the noises around us. Everything kept us on our toes, from squirrels to deer, chipmunks, and other wildlife. The terrain may be difficult for some, due to the tree roots and the uphill climbs, but other than that, it was manageable. We appreciated that there were several signs posted throughout the park, helping us to keep track of our location. Additionally, there were warning signs reminding us of the possibility of tick exposure. One thing is for sure: we kept it moving and thoroughly checked our clothing afterwards. My favorite trail of the day was The Mill Pond. I loved the well-paved paths and the overall layout. I could've spent hours here. I highly recommend this park for those who enjoy the outdoors.

Gorgeous place! Lot's of cool trails to go through and has so many separate areas! First you have…read morethe lake area, then the meadow, then the forest...etc Avalon has lot's of variety!

Came up to visit family and left with a new favorite park. Seriously, all parks should take notes…read morebecause this park is amazing. First off, free sunscreen..never seen that at a park before. A huge, paved walking trail that also has a giant field in the middle of it. An Italian ice shop for when the kids need a sweet treat. There's so much to do here and we love that for our busy body kids! Can't wait to come back :)

Heritage Park is in an area that I have an attachment to. Growing up here in the 1980s, I remember…read morewhen Route 25A was a semi rural road that abutted Davis Peach Farm in Mount Sinai. In the mid 1990s, when I was in my twenties, suburbia conquered the acres of open peach farms at a time when the Route 347 sprawl entended east along Route 25A. In 2013, there was a positive turn of events. On the triangular parcel of former peach farm lane bounded by NY 25A, Coram-Mount Sinai Road, and County Route 83; a developer proposed constructing a home improvement store. Concurrently, the local residents with Brookhaven Township derailed these plans and instead created a beautiful park where residents from all over can enjoy a public space. Heritage Park was born. By now, I was living in Las Vegas. In recent times when I visited my Dad, we had spent time here on four occasions before dining in Lotus East. The way we have experienced Heritage Park is walking the 0.7 mile oval walking path counter clockwise with three bench stops. This review discusses the four experiences here from the perspective of walking the peripheral trail counter-clockwise. To begin with, this is a concrete trail that is level. This has been beneficial to my dad who has had foot issues. Getting on the trail northbound we take in the historic Heritage House. This is a community center that houses local events. For park users this is one of two restroom locations. Continuing north, the Davis Peach farm history lives on with preserved farming equipment by a red barn. As the trail curves west at the triangular northern tip of the park, a community garden and diminutive forest appear to the back of the Heritage House. This is where we sit after walking around the park. Traveling northbound parallel to County Route 83, there are sporadic young trees that have been gradually maturing. Within a few years, I expect them to bring shade to a park that was formerly farmland. It is along this segment where we take our first bench break in a square called "The Court of Americas." This is a neat area where the garden is shaped like the USA that is framed with bricks displaying the names of every US President. From this spot, there is a clear view of the butterfly garden and central walkways. Continuing north, then following an S-curve, my eyes take in the open grass, soccer fields, and baseball fields to the left. At the S-curve, I have seen the most nature in the park that includes rabbits and robins. At the northern preiphery, the trail turns to the left to follow NY 25A. From here, I could see the expanse of open grass reaching towards the Heritage House. Turning to the south, I sometimes cut across the play knoll. I believe that this is the highest point of the park. The trail now parallels Coram-Mount Sinai Road with the soccer field to the left. This is where our second bench stop is. It is a scenic spot that overlooks a decorative waterfall with a miniature pine forest slope providing the backdrop of a putting green fronting open grass reaching towards Route 25A. Continuing north towards the parking lot, the park turns children's friendly. There is a Kids Maze and a playground. What the park is not, is doggy friendly. Dogs are prohibited. Heading more north the scenery features the parking lot to the right with open grass to the left. By now we have walked 0.7 miles. We will conclude the loop at bench stop three overlooking the community garden. Depending on the visit, we have done a second loop or walked back to the car. Speaking of parking. The parking lot is off of Coram-Mount Sinai Road. On all four of our visits there has been sufficient parking. I would like to add that the parking lot is convenient to the the North Shore Rail Trail. Only a short walk along Coram-Mount Sinai Road then across Route 25A is a 10-mile paved trail that connects Mount Sinai to Wading River. This short walk extends the Heritage Park experience into a regional hike or bicycle ride. If I still lived on Long Island, I would partake in it. In conclusion, I give Heritage Park 4-stars. The local residents and Brookhaven Township have created something special.

Came on Thursday, March, 27th 2025. It's was shorts and…read morehoodie weather. No Mudd today. We left The Cow at the Big Tree in the middle of the park field

Nice open area of grass with a magnificent tree sitting in the middle. Came here with the fam…read more Great place to let baby walk around "freely" exploring the grass, stones, and all magical things nature offers in this space. Area is clean and dogs are allowed. There is a 2 mile hiking trail and a little house ran by the Farmingville Historical Society. We brought a blanket and some snacks for a quick bite before heading back home.

The dried up river was actually really nice to look at, and there was a swing near the remains of…read morethe river that was nice to swing on and get pictures on.

Beautiful any season!! Trails aren't always 100% well-marked, but that might just be my bad sense…read moreof direction!! Peaceful, quiet, clean, and LOTS to see and do here!! Group camping, dog park, large lake with rowboats to rent, and more!! ENJOY!! And get there EARLY for a good parking spot!!

This is a cool park. It's a decent size with a soccer field, softball field, a couple of tennis…read morecourts, a handball court, and a couple of basketball courts. There are also some chess tables and benches scattered around, a couple of playgrounds, and a pavilion. They all could use a little bit of TLC because they get beat up from all the use, but they're decent. The parking here is good and they've also got a public bathroom which comes in clutch when you need it. I mostly go to enjoy the walking paths. They've got a few that go through a nice patch of wooded area. It's easy to walk and looks nice in the summer and fall. You can walk down to the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Park right on Lake Ronkonkoma and enjoy that as well.

I go every summer to see the Just Sixties Concert. Excellent band!!! Came back to go for a walk…read more Good trail.

If you are leaving this less than three stars I'd have to wonder why other than the fact that maybe…read moreyou want shade in the summer or it to be less breezy in the colder months... but then I'd have to wonder what or why you'd expect something so absurd. I walked the entire ground the other day and found a little glass closer to the water side of the park... that's pretty typical of beaches in general and due mostly to careless people; If it bothers you and your pup, might I suggest doing your part and picking a couple pieces up? This place is a hidden magical gem that I hope stays exactly the way it is.

Tons of broken glass,no fence on northern property line where the deer like to visit,if your dog…read moreenjoys the chase most likely they will end up on roe blvd outside of the park.

Great to bring the dog, Park area closed in for larger dogs…read moreand one for the smaller pups! Love taking the family down to walk to the water at Gardiner park!

What a nice park. It's about .6 mile from the parking lot to the beach, we'll sort of a beach lol…read moreplenty of trails to explore. Had my lunch at one of the picnic tables.

This dog park in Shirley, Suffolk County, is about 5 minutes from Brookhaven Airport and 8-10…read moreminutes from Smith Point Beach. The entrance is easy to miss--the sign is small and blends into the bushes, so GPS is recommended. There is a grass and sand parking lot with one handicap space. Inside, the park is divided into two fenced areas: one for small dogs and one for large dogs. Each has a double-gated entrance, but the small dog gate is difficult to close and often left open. Some repairs look to have been done by locals with rope, but proper maintenance is needed. Combined, both sections are about the size of a football field. The large dog area has two shade trees, while the small dog area has none. Each section has a few benches. Visitors have left behind toys and bowls, but it's best not to use the water bowls--others have reported kennel cough. It gets very hot here in the summer months. Bringing water in a bowl is recommended. There are only two trash cans, both outside the fenced areas, and waste cleanup is inconsistent. Bring your own bags (though sometimes donated bags are available). The park is surrounded by brush and fields, with possible poison ivy/oak. Mosquitoes can be an issue, but I haven't had any flea or tick problems here. The county mows every couple of weeks, which helps, though the parking lot and walkways are often overgrown. Most of the dogs are medium to large breeds in the big dog section, but a handful of small dogs do come regularly. Overall, the dogs are friendly and the owners are great--I've only come across one or two dogs that weren't a good fit, which is typical for any dog park. Locals visit year-round, even in the snow, and there's usually at least one or two people here no matter the time of day. There is also an old, unused agility ramp in the large dog area. The park is open year-round with no posted hours. I'm rating this dog park three stars. While I enjoy bringing my dog here and I'm grateful it exists (especially since there aren't many dog parks on Long Island), it needs better maintenance and more accessible trash cans. In my opinion, the small dog area is oversized for the number of small dogs that use it, and overall the park doesn't measure up to four- or five-star dog parks I've visited elsewhere. That said, it's still worth a visit--the space is large, the community of dogs and owners is wonderful, and it's the best option nearby.

Love this place! Dogs are friendly, the people are very nice. Field is huge and all fenced in.read more