New York Roads - Long Island Motor Pkwy. - Nassau Co. - Roslyn Rd., Williston Park

Long Island Motor Parkway
Nassau County - Roslyn Rd. in Williston Park


The Parkway has two sections off of Roslyn Rd., both about equally easy to access, but the western section has a lot more to show for it. I recommend parking on Barnyard Lane and walking south until you see a long driveway/narrow street on your left. You can get the eastern section out of the way by heading down that street past the first house, then climbing up the embankment to the right. Keep an eye out while you're on the street, because it may have been an original WB exit ramp (keep reading for more on that). When you're done, head back out to Roslyn Rd. and cross. I found a quasi-path by heading a little to the left, but the old alignment is pretty much dead ahead so don't go too far.


Looking west from Roslyn Rd., then climbing up the abutment of the former overpass and heading west between backyards. The tree tunnel is the result of years of growth after tree trimming along the Parkway stopped, but it's very poetic.


Continuing west past a pile of original Parkway concrete and a mysterious post to the end of the road at a former railroad overpass. The stone wall was of course built before overgrowth made it impossible to get vehicles such as ATVs up here - and is still useful for those who explore cluelessly. The reason the post near the end of the road is mysterious is that while it looks like a cable guiderail post, it's located inside the shoulder at the very edge of the road. Guiderail for the Parkway was not of the cable style and was, of course, located outside the shoulder, so I do not know what function this post could ever have served.


Heading back east from the railroad to Roslyn Rd. and looking across Roslyn Rd. at the other embankment. There is a house behind there, but then behind the house...


Looking east and west on top of another small piece of the Parkway.


Up to the fence of the less overgrown half and looking at the half even I wasn't willing to climb through. It's quite literally a jungle in there.


Facing west from that fence.


There is a long driveway heading back along the north side of this overgrown piece of Parkway. There are these concrete posts on the north side of the road. I am thinking that, given how the Parkway is coming down from the (former) Roslyn Rd. overpass, this may have been a WB offramp to Roslyn Rd. once upon a time. Otherwise, the posts and guiderail would be up on the highway. Then again, these posts are the same newer style that you saw above inside the EB shoulder west of Roslyn Rd., so I may be jumping to conclusions.


I came back in winter for a photo of one of the original Parkway toll houses, well shrouded once the leaves are back on the trees (and bushes, and weeds). It has been modified a bit, and certainly not its original color, but the unmistakable overall profile and trapezoidal alcove give its original function away. (It's also set back from the houses in the development to the south, and in fact the driveway is off Roslyn Rd. just south of the Parkway ROW. I wouldn't recommend visiting unannounced, though; stay on the Parkway when you take photos.)

Willis Ave. (Williston Park) and Mineola
Williston Park/Mineola main page
The Parkway in Nassau County
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