Plainview

Plainview is a larger sister hamlet to Old Bethpage. The area, which is bordered by several major parkways and the Suffolk County border, was part of the Bethpage Purchase. This 1687 transaction also includes modern-day Old Bethpage, Plainedge, Bethpage, and Farmingdale. For years, farmers cultivated cucumbers and potatoes, until blight, coupled with the post-war demand for suburban housing, resulted in farmers selling their lands to developers. Today, the hamlet is home to 26,000 residents.

The hamlet’s location provides commuters and drivers with many points into and out of town. The Northern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway have multiple exits in Plainview. The Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway, another major artery, provides access to points north and south. Commuters who use the LIRR need to access the train from Syosset, Hicksville or Bethpage as Plainview does not have its own stop. Town of Oyster Bay permits are generally required to park at the stations.

Its inclusion in the Town of Oyster Bay gives residents access to many parks and recreational programs. The Town oversees the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park, a 19-acre space with play and picnic areas, a swimming pool and a kiddie pool. Residents can also enjoy two town beaches, Theodore Roosevelt to the north on Oyster Bay Harbor and Tobay Beach, an ocean beach in Massapequa. Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center, which is affiliated with the United Way, serves Nassau and Western Suffolk and offers a range of youth and senior programs. The relatively unknown Manetto Hills Park, located on the grounds of an old estate, is an undeveloped parcel popular with hikers.

Plainview and Old Bethpage share many services, including the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District. The district educates 5,200 students from the two communities. All kindergarten students begin together at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Kindergarten Center, and then continue to one of four elementary schools. Three of the four elementary schools are located in Plainview, as are both middle schools and Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. The high school has a top-notch science research program, and very high Regents passing rates. The community also shares the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library, a modern facility which offers community and cultural programs.

Several shopping centers help residents meet most of their shopping needs. Morton Village, Manetto Hill Plaza and Woodbury Plaza feature lots of variety, including well known chains like the Gap and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Fairway and Trader Joes, two specialty grocery stores, draw shoppers from neighboring towns. Plainview is also conveniently located between two shopping malls, Broadway Mall in Hicksville and Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington.

Home prices vary greatly and have dropped significantly since the recession. Current prices begin around $300,000, though those houses tend to be smaller and may need work. A small number of homes predate the post-war building boom. However, most of Plainview’s capes, splits and ranches were built during the 1950s and 1960s. The most expensive single-family homes are priced above $1 million. Homebuyers interested in co-ops and condominiums will find several options and price points, currently between $300,000 and $1 million.