The Privatization of Public Parks

The current Nassau County Administration is aggressively pursuing its goal of partially or completely privatizing most of its parks, preserves, beaches, museums, etc, etc. PARCnassau has always opposed most privatization which we believe demonstrates the county’s ignoring the public will and their fiduciary responsibility to our parks system.



That being said, there are some civic organizations that have generously offered time and personnel to maintaining and/or administering some facilities such as museums, and preserves. This, unfortunately, is not the norm. Much more likely are private entrepreneurs, sometimes disguised as a “friend’s group” or not-for-profit organization that has been given control of public parklands, lining their own pockets at the taxpayers expense. The private day care centers in several county parks would be a prime example. Private operators pay a minimum occupancy and use fee, no town or school taxes and reap exceptional profits. The public is excluded or forced to pay higher fees to compensate for their “stewardship”.



We believe this is intolerable and must be stopped and even reversed wherever possible. Instead the county is still chasing new political friends to enter into more privatization agreements.



Documents show that the county has already privatized fully or partially the following public properties:





· African American Museum

· Bailey Arboretum

· Cradle of Aviation

· Flower Hill Park

· Herrick’s Park

· Hewlett House

· Leeds Pond Preserve

· Northern Boulevard Park

· Roslyn Senior Citizens

· Sands Point Park & Preserve

· Silver Point Park

· Tanglewood Park & Preserve

· Wantagh Railroad Museum

· Welwyn Preserve

· William Cullen Bryant Preserve





These documents further show that the county executive and his stff are actively targeting the following properties for privatization.





Baxter Pond Park
Brookside Preserve
Carmann’s Pond Park
Carle Place Memorial Park
Cedarmere
Centenial Park
Garvies Point Preserve
Grant park
Halls Pond
Inwood Park
Jericho Historic Preserve
Manetto Hills Preserve
Massapequa Preserve
Mill Neck Creek Preserve
Meadowbrook Park
Merrick (Meroke) Preserve
Mill (Jones) Pond
Muttontown Park & Preserve
Old Bethpage Restoration Village
Rev. Arthur Mackey Sr. Park
Saddle Rock Grist Mill
Sea Cliff Park
Stannard’s Brook Park
Stillwell Woods & Preserve
Syosset Memorial Park


Are you concerned yet? Does the county walking away from its responsibility to operate and maintain these properties on our behalf bother you? Will we, the taxpayers of this county, continue to stand by while our children’s and grandchildren’s legacy is sold, bartered or given away? We hope not.



We haven’t even given you the worst of what is happening. A “Sportsplex” in Cedar Creek Park and Nickerson Beach Park and the sale of part of the Meadowbrook Preserve to an adjacent day camp that had used the site as their private property without the knowledge and permission of the county for years. These three instances will be the subjects of following updates.



Meanwhile, it is time for us to express our disgust and betrayal at the county administration’s cavalier treatment of our park system and demand the county recover and protect our parklands. It may be time for a public meeting to demonstrate our commitment. Will you and your membership come and show your support? Let us know.



Bruce Piel

Chairman

Park Advocacy & Recreation Council of Nassau (PARCnassau)

246 Twin Lane East

Wantagh, NY 11793

(516)783-8378