The Heritage Center is situated on the grounds of Mount Sinai's beloved Heritage Park, a Town of Brookhaven park that operates in partnership with North Shore Youth Council and Suffolk County. Developed in 2013 to prevent the construction of a major home improvement retail store, Heritage Park offers the North Shore communities a place that captures a real sense of community with exciting amenities the whole family can enjoy. Today, North Shore Youth Council's Heritage Center stewards park opportunities and works with the Town of Brookhaven and other local organizations and businesses to ensure its longevity and legacy for generations to come.
Heritage Park Amenities
Special Features
Community Garden
The community garden behind the Heritage Center opens in early spring and is designed to foster meaningful interactions with our natural environment, develop environmental stewards, create educational opportunities, and nurture community identity and cooperation. Community members can reserve a garden plot by submitting our rules and guidelines waiver along with a $25 donation.
The community garden behind the Heritage Center opens in early spring and is designed to foster meaningful interactions with our natural environment, develop environmental stewards, create educational opportunities, and nurture community identity and cooperation. Community members can reserve a garden plot by submitting our rules and guidelines waiver along with a $25 donation.
Planetary Walk
Using the Peppercorn Model, also known as the Thousand Yard Model, Heritage Park's fun and educational planetary walk is a scale model of the solar system, showing the relative sizes of the planets and the distances between them at the same time using the same linear scale. Begin your tour of the solar system starting with the sun at the south end of the park and follow the planet signs along the perimeter fence.
Using the Peppercorn Model, also known as the Thousand Yard Model, Heritage Park's fun and educational planetary walk is a scale model of the solar system, showing the relative sizes of the planets and the distances between them at the same time using the same linear scale. Begin your tour of the solar system starting with the sun at the south end of the park and follow the planet signs along the perimeter fence.
Avenue of America/Parade of Flags
Enhancing the patriotic imagery in the park is the Avenue of America, a tree-lined walkway with paver stones representing all 50 states. On Memorial Day and Independence Day, Boy Scout Troop 1776 raises nearly 100 flags along the avenue, including flags from all 50 states, as well as flags of the U.S. armed forces, flags of U.S. territories, and previous versions of the American flag. Accompanying the flags are educational signs with informative state facts, mottos, pictures, and symbols.
Enhancing the patriotic imagery in the park is the Avenue of America, a tree-lined walkway with paver stones representing all 50 states. On Memorial Day and Independence Day, Boy Scout Troop 1776 raises nearly 100 flags along the avenue, including flags from all 50 states, as well as flags of the U.S. armed forces, flags of U.S. territories, and previous versions of the American flag. Accompanying the flags are educational signs with informative state facts, mottos, pictures, and symbols.
Court of America
Developed by the late Fred Drewes, longtime Mount Sinai community resident and park volunteer, the Court of America serves as a patriotic tribute and sitting area for park-goers. The court includes benches, plaques with famous quotes, and a garden in the shape of the United States. The garden features rocks, flowers, and plants, and is bordered by stone blocks featuring the names of U.S. presidents and the years they held office.
Developed by the late Fred Drewes, longtime Mount Sinai community resident and park volunteer, the Court of America serves as a patriotic tribute and sitting area for park-goers. The court includes benches, plaques with famous quotes, and a garden in the shape of the United States. The garden features rocks, flowers, and plants, and is bordered by stone blocks featuring the names of U.S. presidents and the years they held office.
Butterfly Garden
The Butterfly Garden was planted in June 2014 by members of Girl Scout Troop 004, master gardeners, and community volunteers. The garden is filled with a variety of specially-selected plants to provide nectar to adult butterflies and provide food for larvae. The bridge and dry river bed add visual interest to the landscape, but also provide a windbreak that help the butterflies maintain their position. The river rocks allow butterflies a place to rest and provide a water source from the rainwater collected in-between the stones.
The Butterfly Garden was planted in June 2014 by members of Girl Scout Troop 004, master gardeners, and community volunteers. The garden is filled with a variety of specially-selected plants to provide nectar to adult butterflies and provide food for larvae. The bridge and dry river bed add visual interest to the landscape, but also provide a windbreak that help the butterflies maintain their position. The river rocks allow butterflies a place to rest and provide a water source from the rainwater collected in-between the stones.
Play Knoll
Overlooking all of Heritage Park, the play knoll provides the perfect spot for winter sledding or a summer picnic. The daffodil smiley face on the north end of the knoll, planted years ago by the late Fred Drewes, delights children and adults alike when it blooms each spring.
Overlooking all of Heritage Park, the play knoll provides the perfect spot for winter sledding or a summer picnic. The daffodil smiley face on the north end of the knoll, planted years ago by the late Fred Drewes, delights children and adults alike when it blooms each spring.
Community Putting Green
The community putting green was designed in 2016 and is annually maintained by the Mount Sinai-based FX Design Team. The spacious putting green is adorned with landscaping and a peaceful waterfall nestled into the hillside accented with nautical elements, including anchors donated by a local Navy veteran. The putting green and adjoining sand trap provide practice space for golf beginners and enthusiasts.
The community putting green was designed in 2016 and is annually maintained by the Mount Sinai-based FX Design Team. The spacious putting green is adorned with landscaping and a peaceful waterfall nestled into the hillside accented with nautical elements, including anchors donated by a local Navy veteran. The putting green and adjoining sand trap provide practice space for golf beginners and enthusiasts.
Kidz Maze
Developed by the Mount Sinai Garden Club in 2017, the Kidz Maze recently underwent a redesign, thanks to a collaboration between Councilwoman Jane Bonner, the Mount Sinai Civic Association and Garden Club, and real estate company Engel Burman. With a generous donation from Steven Krieger, attorney and founding partner of Engel Burman, the new privet hedge maze provides an entertaining walking path for children.
Developed by the Mount Sinai Garden Club in 2017, the Kidz Maze recently underwent a redesign, thanks to a collaboration between Councilwoman Jane Bonner, the Mount Sinai Civic Association and Garden Club, and real estate company Engel Burman. With a generous donation from Steven Krieger, attorney and founding partner of Engel Burman, the new privet hedge maze provides an entertaining walking path for children.
Little Free Library
The Little Free Library is a free book exchange established in 2017 by Girl Scout Troop 2878. Little Free Library, a non-profit organization, inspires a love of reading and builds community relationships by fostering neighborhood book exchanges. The books can be borrowed or swapped, and are located in a red, house-shaped box on a post located near the playground and Shack.
The Little Free Library is a free book exchange established in 2017 by Girl Scout Troop 2878. Little Free Library, a non-profit organization, inspires a love of reading and builds community relationships by fostering neighborhood book exchanges. The books can be borrowed or swapped, and are located in a red, house-shaped box on a post located near the playground and Shack.
The Shack
Open seasonally with public restrooms located on the right side of the building.
Open seasonally with public restrooms located on the right side of the building.