The small village of Island Park in the town of Hempstead covers only half a square mile and claims a picturesque location by the ocean. This primarily residential haven has developed its own library on Long Beach Road, a valued resource for the community. In addition to specialty shops and services, Island Park is home to several hospitality suites and a number of fine restaurants that serve a variety of international cuisine. Boating and fishing charters are major businesses in this water-oriented community. Large luxury homes, some that command spectacular waterfront views, tend to dominate the Island Park housing selection. More modest homes are scattered throughout the area, which began as a summer resort colony and transformed into a small, year-round permanent community.