$943,676Average Value$393Average Price per Sq Ft6Homes For Sale
Frequent events build community in Brightwaters
For many neighborhoods, the story of how they got their name is a point of pride, passed down from generation to generation. But in Brightwaters, a little village about a mile from downtown Bay Shore, there’s more than one story. Some say that it comes from a Native American word for the area, “wohseepee,” which is said to mean “place of bright waters,” though there's no evidence this is true. Another local legend says that in 1880, Maude Phelps, the daughter of a local landowner, saw the area’s string of spring-fed lakes and declared that it should be called Brightwaters. However it came to be, the name fits, conjuring images of sunlight glinting off water and hinting at one of Brightwaters’ major draws: water access and beautiful parks, helped along by the canal that runs into the Great South Bay.
The neighborhood is bright in another way, though, that draws people to settle and stay here — its community. “It’s extremely neighborly; everyone’s really friendly,” says Megan Gardner, a licensed real estate salesperson at Signature Premier Properties who grew up in Brightwaters and has been selling homes there for eight years. “It’s kind of like a family. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Especially in the summer, they’ll have get-togethers at the private beach where the village can come down and just catch up with each other and be with each other and relax and hang out, which is super nice.”
The lakes in Brightwaters give the area a picturesque landscape among which to live.
The water is just a few blocks away from most in Brightwaters.
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Enjoying nature by the lakes, dog-friendly Gilbert Beach
Brightwaters is a haven for nature lovers. “In the wintertime, when the lakes freeze, you can ice skate,” Gardner says. “And in the spring, it’s so lovely because we have families of swans that live there, and every year they build their nests and then we get to see the cygnets. It’s kind of a big thing.” Swimming and kayaking aren’t allowed, and although fishing is technically okay with a permit, many locals are concerned about swans, geese or herons getting tangled in fishing wire. “The residents of Brightwaters are very protective of the wildlife,” Gardner says. “So we take great care of the geese, the swans. We definitely have quick responses if we see an animal who’s hurt — calls are made immediately to whatever the right person is to come and rescue them. If you’re driving by the road by the lakes and you have your pack of geese coming, you have to wait. And it can take a long time!” Locals enjoy walking and biking around the lake or finding a peaceful spot to sit and watch wildlife. In 2022, the gazebos at the top of the canal and bridges at Upper Cascade Lake and Mirror Lake were restored. It’s not uncommon to see couples getting wedding or engagement photos taken at one of the gazebos or lakes.
Walker Beach and Gilbert Park, located on either side of the canal, are go-to spots for swimming and fishing. “Walker Beach is great because there’s usually an ice cream truck that pulls in, there aren’t big waves and there’s a playground on site,” says Margaret Smith, an associate broker at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty who has been selling homes here for over 30 years. “And it’s a private little beach that you can literally go to for an hour and if your kids need a nap, you can go home and do that.” Gilbert Park has a daily early morning “yappy hour,” where dogs frolic off-leash. “We joke that the dog park has the best views of the area because it’s right on the point,” Smith says. For boaters who don’t have private docks, there’s also a village marina. More inland, Wohseepee Park got new play equipment for toddlers in 2023, but it also has tennis courts and hosts village events. Residents can also rent its cabin for private events.
Walker Park and Beach in Brightwaters have pleasant picnic tables in the shade.
Gilbert Park is a great place to escape in the Brightwaters neighborhood.
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Inland homes starting around $650,000 in Brightwaters
“If you love old-world charm — houses built in the 1920s and up — this is the community that you would want to live in,” Smith says. “A lot of the houses were built in the early 1900s, so each of the houses are completely unique and different.” Older colonials, Tudors and Victorians dating from the first half of the 20th century are common here. So are Cape Cods, but that style can date anywhere from the 1920s to the 1960s. Ranch-style homes often date to the 1960s. Inland houses north of Union Boulevard typically start around $650,000 and max out at about $1 million, while the homes in the area around the lakes — fittingly called The Lakes by locals — typically range between $850,000 and $1.5 million.
Then there are the homes along the canal, which Smith says was built to resemble canals in Venice. Split into two areas called the East Concourse and West Concourse, these homes are just as coveted as they are unique. “Usually, when you live on the water, your canal is in the back and you’re giving up your backyard for canal space. What’s unique about Brightwaters is that with the concourse, your waterfront is in front of your house,” Smith says. “You have first option for the boat slip in front of your house. And you still have a really generous-sized backyard. It’s very cool. It’s so rare to have it in front of you so that’s what your house is overlooking — this Venice-like canal.” Typically, these homes start around $950,000 and can reach about $2 million. “There are only like 4 houses for sale in Brightwater the last I checked,” Smith says. “It’s not a big community, and people tend to not move. This is their final destination, really. They love it so much that there’s not a high turnover of houses.”
Brightwaters has a moderate risk of flooding from severe storms and hurricanes. Roads are the most frequently flooded, but severe storms like hurricanes can also flood homes and bring a major risk of wind damage. Getting insurance to protect against these things is a vital part of living here. The CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Some colonial style homes in Brightwaters vary in price range.
Cape Cod style homes are about the smallest in the affluent Brightwaters.
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Annual runs, Witches Paddle for Halloween
Village events are a vital part of Brightwaters’ community-focused atmosphere. Sporting events are popular, especially for local children, and there are two annual runs in the community. “In October, they do the Witches Paddle, and you get on your paddleboard and you paddle up the canal in your witches’ costume,” Gardner says. “You start out in the bay and you paddle up the canal. Everyone’s paddling in with their witch’s hats on. It’s great.” There’s also the Halloween Ragamuffin Parade, where people don their costumes, meet at the bank and parade to a haunted house in Wohseepee Park. Smith says that Brightwaters’ little beach is also a popular spot for community events, including movie nights, clam bakes and pizza nights.
Wohseepee Park has well maintained Tennis Courts in the Brightwaters neighborhood.
Boating in the Great South Bay and beyond is popular with Brightwaters residents.
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Restaurants and small businesses in the Four Corners
Brightwaters’ town center is a little intersection with a single stop light and a small collection of local businesses that locals call the Four Corners. But despite its size, Gardner still says that nearly anything locals need is there, including nail and hair salons, a dance studio, a bakery and a few restaurants. The recently renovated Mamma Santina Pizza is the go-to for pizza and chicken parmesan, and Gardner says it often has live music. Brightwaters Inn is where many locals catch the game together, and Henley’s Village Tavern has a relaxed, pub-like atmosphere and a penchant for serving dessert in skillets. “Not only is the food good at all of them, but it’s a great vibe if you wanted to just go there and have a drink and apps,” Gardner says. For dessert, Dulce de Leche Cake Shop has a case brimming with options and decorates cakes for parties and special events. Bay Shore’s busy downtown has more shopping and dining about a mile away. Major retailers, including Target, Old Navy and Barnes & Noble, are also nearby, just outside Brightwaters’ northern border. Alongside these shops is King Kullen, where many locals get groceries.
Henley's Tavern in Brightwaters is an upscale eatery with a lively bar scene.
Brightwaters Inn is a local bar with a lively crowd.
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Sports at Bay Shore High
Niche gives the Bay Shore Union Free School District an A. Children can attend Fifth Avenue School, which has an A-minus, from kindergarten through second grade and South Country School, which has a B-plus, from third through fifth grade. They then move on to Bay Shore Middle School, which also has a B-plus, and Bay Shore High School, which has an A-minus. The high school is known for its sports and has a track record of producing semi-pro and pro athletes. In the 2024 season, its boys’ basketball team won the school’s first Long Island championship since 1981. The team finished their season with a near-perfect 25 wins out of 26 games, coming just shy of winning the state championship.
Fifth Avenue School serves students from grades K-2.
Bay Shore senior high school near Brightwaters receives an A- from Niche .
Bay Shore Middle School near Brightwaters serves students in grades 6-8.
South Country Elementary is a B+ rated school from Niche.
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Major highways, LIRR and nearby hospitals
Sunrise Highway and Montauk Highway both run through Brightwaters, and it takes just a few minutes to get onto Robert Moses Causeway. This makes it easy to travel by car, but Bay Shore Station on the Long Island Rail Road provides yet another option just a mile from home. From there, commuters reach Manhattan’s Penn Station in about an hour and 15 minutes. Bay Shore’s ferry to Fire Island is less than 2 miles away, making it a breeze to hop over to bigger, more exciting beaches. South Shore University Hospital is also less than 2 miles away, and it’s only a little farther — about 3 miles — to Good Samaritan University Hospital. Long Island MacArthur Airport is 13 miles away.
The Bay Shore LIRR is super close to Brightwaters,
Fire Island ferries run regularly from the Bay Shore terminal near Brightwaters.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
Photography Contributed By
Joseph Popovich
Video By
Britt Lyle
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Phyllis Singer,
an experienced agent in this area.
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