Lynbrook

Lynbrook is an incorporated village in the Town of Hempstead, with a population of approximately 20,000. Many of its original residents, who arrived at the turn of the last century, hailed from Brooklyn. The name “Lynbrook,” bestowed upon the village in 1894, was formed by reversing the order of the syllables. The village was incorporated in 1911.

Sunrise Highway bisects the town, and is the major east-west artery. Residents who commute to work on the Long Island Rail Road have three nearby station options: Lynbrook, Westwood in Malverne and Centre Avenue in East Rockaway. Lynbrook residents can get permits to park at all three. To the north, the Southern State is the main parkway and also sees heavy commuter traffic.

Five school districts are located within the village’s Lynbrook’s boundaries, though the majority of students attend Lynbrook’s schools, which have approximately 3,000 students. Students attend a kindergarten center, then one of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The district has an excellent reputation, and is one of main draws for house hunters. Depending on the grade and subject, only 1-2% of K-8 students failed to meet standards on state exams. Middle school students who qualified academically can take high-school level Regents exams; in 2011 the passing rate was 100%. The high school, which also has strong Regents passing rates, was ranked by Newsweek in 2011 as one of the top 400 high schools in the U.S. In addition to several Advanced Placement exams, high school students can earn college credit through Molloy College and SUNY Albany.

The village has its own recreation department, which runs programs and parks. There is a municipal pool for residents only. Tanglewood Preserve, which is located on the border of Lynbrook and Rockville Center, is an eleven acre park with nature trails and a pond for fishing. Hot Skates, an area institution, is an indoor skating rink which has open skate as well as roller hockey. In addition, Lynbrook residents can take advantage of the Town of Hempstead’s many parks, which include four nearby town beaches.

Lynbrook’s status as a relatively older village means many of the homes are over seventy years old. However, a good number were also built after World War II. Several condo and co-op complexes provide another option. Property taxes are very high, which are a concern, but residents generally appreciate the quality of life they have in this small, historic village.