By: Josh Gastein

Massapequa Park is strutting with pride after being named the best place to live in New York, according to a U.S. News & World Report ranking that placed the Long Island enclave among the top 150 communities in the country. Residents are embracing the national attention, with many saying the honor is long overdue. NY Post reported.

The village’s new title brings a refreshing spotlight after recent unwanted headlines—including the 2023 arrest of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, a longtime local—and a heated fight over keeping the school district’s controversial “Chiefs” logo. NY Post reported.

“This is the place you want to start a family,” said Michael Cassano, a lifelong resident and owner of the American Beauty restaurant in the heart of the village. He says what sets the Park—Massapequa Park’s nickname—apart is its combination of grit, warmth, and fierce loyalty. “With that comes a pride — you see it in the fight to keep the Chiefs logo,” Cassano added. “Everybody is getting behind it, just how everybody gets behind this town for all sorts of things.”

The town, with about 17,000 residents, scored highly in quality-of-life measures such as public safety, schools, and community involvement. Nestled on Long Island’s South Shore and just east of New York City, it offers small-town charm with easy access to big-city amenities. NY Post reported.

Maria Cassano, Michael’s wife, said the town’s sense of unity stands out—pointing to how locals came together for the funeral procession of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller in Spring 2024. “To see our community come together, that’s a norm for us,” she said. “I think this town brings families together.”

Despite the cloud cast by Heuermann’s arrest—he lived near the town center and attended Berner High School—the community’s spirit was unshaken. Vinny and Allie Frazzetto, both 30, purchased a home near Heuermann’s residence last summer, undeterred by the media circus. NY Post reported.

“The long-standing reputation that Massapequa Park has, the good schools, core values, and the wonderful community prevailed over anything else,” said Allie, who is expecting the couple’s first child in September.

Public safety was another major reason for the Park’s high ranking—it topped the U.S. News & World Report list for safest community in the country in 2024. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman credited Mayor Daniel Pearl for “doing an outstanding job” on residential quality of life. NY Post reported.

For the Frazzettos, the move marked a fresh start. “I love that you have the opportunities that a big district would give you, but the feel of a small neighborhood,” Allie said. Her husband, originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, added that he was excited for his child to have neighborhood friends like he did growing up. “We wanted the great school districts that Massapequa has, and we wanted the backyard, we wanted that next chapter of life.”

And the town isn’t just topping rankings—it’s winning trophies too. Massapequa High School’s baseball, softball, and both girls’ and boys’ lacrosse teams clinched county titles this spring. NY Post reported.

“We have winners and successful people. It doesn’t happen by accident,” said Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino, himself a Massapequa graduate. “It happens because of tremendous support from the parents and the families. The community, and especially the school district. It reflects so well on everyone.”