Marine Nature Study Area

Hey there, welcome to the Marine Nature Study Area (MNSA)

We're the Town of Hempstead's very own 52-acre "living laboratory" , tucked right here in Oceanside. We first opened our gates on the very first Earth Day back in 1970 , so we've been passionately educating the public about salt marsh ecology, marine life, and conservation for over 50 years.

Think of us as a sanctuary —a place where you can explore estuaries, salt marshes, and sand dunes on just under a mile of trails and boardwalks. Our mission is simple: to serve as a hub for "education, research, preservation, management practices and to enrich community life".

Now, we'll be honest, Mother Nature (specifically Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy) gave us a serious makeover we didn't ask for. But we are resilient! We are currently in the process of a massive rebirth, building a brand-new, 2,600-square-foot, state-of-the-art interpretive center. This new facility is designed to be flood-resilient, handicap-accessible , and will once again host students and the public with modern classrooms.

We can't wait to have you visit and see for yourself why this ecosystem is so vital to our Long Island community!