Williston Park

Williston Park is a small incorporated village in the Town of North Hempstead. Founded in 1926, its name is in honor of Samuel Willis, a late 17th century settler. Developer William Chatlos envisioned a planned community, twenty years before Levittown, and on a much smaller scale. Chatlos oversaw the construction of 1,000 Dutch colonials, built at the rate of one per day.

Hillside Avenue and Willis Avenue are the main roads and provide most of the village’s commercial activity, with approximately 300 stores, eateries and professional offices. Most residents likely find it easy to obtain necessities. The village has odd, irregular borders with the exception of its eastern border with East Williston, which falls along the rail road tracks. The LIRR station provides travel to Manhattan in about 45 minutes. Williston Park sits on the west side of the tracks, with permit parking for residents and non-residents. East Williston is on the other side, with a lot for residents with permits. Buses travel regularly along Hillside and Willis Avenues.

Despite its name, parkland is minimal in Williston Park. Kelleher Park hosts the village’s Little League games, and a sliver of Albertson’s Caemmerer Park stretches across its border. Caemmerer Park has a playground and restroom facilities. Clark Botanical Gardens, twelve acres of gardens, trees, ponds and streams, is also located in Albertson. The Town of North Hempstead owns and operates Harbor Links, a residents-only public golf course with 18 holes, a driving range and miniature golf course, located in Port Washington.

The village does not have its own school district. Mineola takes the students who live east of Willis Avenue, and the students who reside west of Willis attend the Herricks School District. Each district has one elementary school in Williston Park: Center Street is one of Herrick’s three elementary schools, and Cross Street is in the Mineola district. Academically, Herricks is more highly regarded, but Mineola is also considered a solid district.

At the moment, home prices begin in the mid-$300s, a bit higher than some surrounding areas. Home buyers interested in older homes will find a good amount of inventory from the 1920s. Many homes were added during the late 1940s and early 1950s to accommodate returning war veterans and their families, but there are some newer homes as well. Condominiums are available, but in short supply.