"The lead Goose now spent all his time At Bethpage, on the Black, / and honked golf commentary / to all his fledgling flock," - "Students of the Game" by John F. McCullagh
Migrating geese are not the only airborne beings to lay a claim to Bethpage, as McCullagh's poem describes. For many years, Bethpage was home to the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. Not only did they manufacture F-14 Tomcats, but they also made the lunar modules used by NASA during the Apollo moon landings. That may be reason enough to migrate to the area yourself! Situated on Long Island, NY close to Oyster Bay, Bethpage's history stretches back to colonial times. Nowadays, most people know of Bethpage because of its state park, which has no less than five golf courses on it. One of these, known as the Black Course, was chosen as the home of the U.S. Open Championship in 2002 and 2009.
Bethpage has plenty to offer people who are looking for a historic building to live in, but you won't find very many places that have all utilities paid within the rental price
"The lead Goose now spent all his time At Bethpage, on the Black, / and honked golf commentary / to all his fledgling flock," - "Students of the Game" by John F. McCullagh
Migrating geese are not the only airborne beings to lay a claim to Bethpage, as McCullagh's poem describes. For many years, Bethpage was home to the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. Not only did they manufacture F-14 Tomcats, but they also made the lunar modules used by NASA during the Apollo moon landings. That may be reason enough to migrate to the area yourself! Situated on Long Island, NY close to Oyster Bay, Bethpage's history stretches back to colonial times. Nowadays, most people know of Bethpage because of its state park, which has no less than five golf courses on it. One of these, known as the Black Course, was chosen as the home of the U.S. Open Championship in 2002 and 2009.
Moving to Bethpage
Bethpage has plenty to offer people who are looking for a historic building to live in, but you won't find very many places that have all utilities paid within the rental price. The place is great if you want to live somewhere in the city which has access to open green spaces. Massapequa Reserve is just a mile to the south and Jones Beach State Park, which lies on the southern coastline of the island, is not much farther to travel to than that.
The home rental market moves quickly in this part of New York state, so you'll need to be prepared to move quickly if an apartment that meets all of your requirements comes up. If you make an appointment to view, then have paperwork that proves your identity and your income on you, since it can speed things up considerably -- essential if you are in competition with other potential renters. Start your search early in the spring to get in ahead of the rest who tend to get into apartment hunting from about Easter onwards.
The City Layout
Bethpage is set midway between the north and south shores of Long Island. Despite having a Farmingdale zip code, Bethpage State Park bounds the eastern edge of the area. Opened in 1932, it is not just a golfing center. The park is home to polo grounds, too, and has been home to the U.S. Open Polo Championships in the past.
South Bethpage: The area to the south of the railroad has two main roads, Central Avenue and South Broadway, which forms part of Route 107. One-bedroom apartments can be found in this district, but many of the homes that are available to rent tend to be larger. Island Trees Public Library is located just about as far southwest as you can get in Bethpage before you reach Levittown.
North Bethpage: On the other side of the railroad, most of the residences are set back from the road with neatly kept lawns and driveways out front. There is a good gym that lays midway between the train station and the state park. Just a stone's throw from the station, there are a few bars worth checking out. Try B.K. Sweeney's Parkside Tavern or Who Vill Bar & Grill, both on Broadway.
Living in Bethpage
One of the great things about Bethpage is that you are so close to the bustle of New York City without the hassle of it when you want. If the swanky restaurants of the Big Apple attract you, then don't let that put you off Bethpage. There's an excellent Japanese eatery on South Oyster Bay Road and a great Mexican restaurant on Central Avenue. Of course, you can also find fast food outlets as well, if you want them.
If you are looking for rental homes near to the center of New York, then bear in mind that it takes under three quarters of an hour in good traffic to commute to central Manhattan from Bethpage heading along Interstate 495. This is not bad by Long Island's standards. Bethpage is also well served by the Long Island Rail Road and a similar journey by train will take over an hour, although you won't need to find somewhere to park once you arrive. As such, premier apartments tend to be close to the station, and if you want to find an apartment that is more affordable, then you will probably have to expect to search a little further afield.
There is a great tennis center in the district as well as an indoor archery range, so you don't need to be an avid golfer to enjoy sports, if you choose to find an apartment in the area. Just a little journey to the north, you find Old Bethpage Community Park, where visitors can make use of handball and basketball courts as well as a swimming pool.
