Meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Save Cedar Creek Park
Attend a public rally and meeting on
Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at the Auditorium of Wantagh High School, 3297 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh.

The communities of Wantagh and Seaford and the users of Cedar Creek Park won a significant battle when Nassau County abandoned their plan to turn Cedar Creek Park into a Private-For Profit Amusement Park, but the war is not over.

The privatization of Public Parks is occurring all over Nassau County and Cedar Creek Park may be at risk in the future. After the elections in November an effort may be made again to take our park from us. This must be stopped. Come to the meeting and express your views. Help devise a plan to protect Cedar Creek and other county parks from privatization in the future.


Say no to Go-Kart Tracks in County parks!

-Friends of Wantagh Parks
-Park Advocacy & Recreation Council of Nassau (PARCnassau)
-Save Cedar Creek Park Coalition
-Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association

The Coleman Chronicles

The Coleman Chronicles

Or how abusing our public preserves can pay off



By Bruce Piel



George and Marla Coleman, owners of the Coleman Country Day Camp have tendered an offer to buy almost 4 acres of the Roosevelt Preserve near Babylon Turnpike and Meadowbrook Parkway. Nassau County's Administration is for this sale despite many irregularities and the loss of this open space.



In 1972, Nassau County permitted a day /camp, then known as Camp Bauman to use the almost 4 acres for environmental studies and passive enjoyment by its campers. It was expected to be kept in it pristine and natural condition. In 1981 the county was deeded 1,750 acres of watershed open space by NYC which no longer needed it. The transfer included over 73 acres known as the Roosevelt Preserve, which included the 3.86 acres coveted by Coleman. The preserve was to be used for park & parkway purposes only at that time.



In 1984 Nassau County permitted the now Coleman Country Day Camp to use the 3.86 acres, again for nature studies and required it be kept in is natural state. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Coleman built unauthorized structures and committed DEC fresh water violations. In effect Coleman unlawfully converted the property into an active day camp area for his abutting property. When this was discovered in 2005, Nassau revoked the permit. Later in 2007, Coleman, after 21 years of abuse, agreed to abide by the DEC rules and was again allowed to use the land for the passive purposes originally intended. (Note: George Coleman is quite outspoken about his political connections and influence.)



Now the Colemans want to buy this preserve land for $650.000 of which half must go to NYC as per conditions in the original land transfer. That gives the county about $90,000 an acre. In Nassau this amount will buy you a 60X100 lot. Doesn’t make a lot of sense financially.



Our questions are:



Why are we allowing a private for-profit company to purchase preserve property on one hand, while asking county residents to authorize 100 million dollars to acquire open space on the other?



Why would we sell it to a company, even with covenants attached, when that same company willfully and knowingly violated those same covenants in the past?



We believe this to be a poor idea at best and strongly urge everyone who is concerned about acquiring and keeping open space in this county to oppose this by contacting the county executive, the county legislators and NYS legislators (who also must approve the sale).

Update:
Unfortunately our county legislature voted on Wednesday, September 9th to approve the sale of the 3.84 acres of the Roosevelt Preserve to Coleman Country Day Camp, 55 Babylon Turnpike, Freeport.
The vote was 11 to 8, pretty much along party lines. Those who went to testify against this travesty were not permitted to speak until late in the evening to virtually an empty chamber.

Despite this, the travesty can still be stopped. Under the Alienation of Parkland case law, this sale must be approved by the State Legislature. Most State Legislators support open space and most will go along with local legislators on items in their districts and area. What must happen now is everyone who is against the sale should contact their Senators and Assembly persons and ask them to kill the sale. Written letters are best, then e-mails and then phone calls. In addition write, copy or call the following:

Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo Assm. Earlene Hooper Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith
5550 Merrick Rd. Suite 205 50 Clinton St. Suite 214 205-19 Linden Blvd
Massapequa, NY 11758 Hempstead, NY 11550 St. Albans, NY 11290
(516) 882-0630 (516) 489-6610 (718) 528-4290
fuschill@senate.state.ny.us Fax (516) 538-3155 masmith@senate.state.ny.us

Minority Leader Dean Skelos Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver
55 Front Street 250 Broadway, Suite 23207
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 New York, NY 10007
(516) 776-8383 (212) 312-1420
skelos@senate,state.ny.us speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Together we can rescue our open spaces and save our parklands.

Park Privatizations continue

Despite the victory at Cedar Creek Park, the county administration's wheels privatizing county parks, park facilities and open land, continues to roll.

The county is requesting someone to take over the Ice Skating Rink in Grant Park, Hewlett. Hold onto you wallets, Five towns!

The county is selling part of the Tiffany Creek Preserve in Oyster Bay Cove to a local water district. One thing is for sure. This is not to keep and maintain a preserve but to use that land for other purposes.

The Tiffany Creek Preserve, on Sandy Hill Rd, In Oyster Bay Cove is a 232 Acre open space that was originally 4 estates. It is a beautiful example of native flora and fauna and contains 45 acres of nature trails. Through the good offices of the Long Island Chapter of the Nature Conservancy the preserve was created and turned over to Nassau County in 1992 and became an integral part of our suburban lifestyle.

We are looking to establish more specifics on this alienation of parkland and will report them to you when received. Once again, we ask, why did we Nassau County taxpayers take on the responsibility of Environmental Bond Fund Acts totaling $150,000,000.00 to acquire and maintain open space in Nassau County just to have them sell off existing open space. Doesn't make sense. We'll keep you posted.

Update:
Good news, Despite the legal notice showing the entire parcel of approximately 49 acres being sold to the Oyster Bay Water District, according to Bob McAvoy of the district they are buying for $10 only about a half acre for a new well head next to their existing property. Big difference.

This sale still needs "alienation legislation" to be passed by the NYS Legislature to be legal. We would also suggest a public forum to determine both public opinion and the concerns of the Nature Conservancy and other environmental groups before proceeding.

Cedar Creek Privatization Stopped

On October 2, 2009, the county administration issued a press release through the Parks Department canceling the proposed takeover and development of Cedar Creek Park in Wantagh/Seaford. This was due to the immediate response they received from those communities when the facts came out.

Two weeks ago, I and others were privileged to speak before the Wantagh/Seaford Homeowners Association (WSHA) at their regular meeting to discuss this issue. After a lively questions and answer session, the Association resolved to oppose the privatization and to spread the word throughout both communities.

Last week, WSHA hosted a closed meeting, for all other known community organizations only in both Wantagh and Seaford, to discuss concerted action. We advised the attendees of the situation. ( Note: Deputy County Executive Ian Siegel, Parks Commissioner Lopez, Daryl Strawberry and the Developer Philip Tavella attempted to "crash" this meeting and were refused entry) The assembled organizations voted unanimously to reject the privatization and to take whatever measures necessary to stop the project. Flyers were made up, petitions prepared and a face book page, "Save Cedar Creek, Seaford, LI", created. A tentative date for an open meeting for all town residents and all county residents to use Cedar Creek Park was established.

Yesterday, the county administration caved. Surprising what can be accomplished during an election year!

The community coalition plans to continue to insure all interested county taxpayers understand the issues and will probably hold an open meeting to insure the project is "Dead" for good. They also wish to address the feared collapse of the Cedar Creek Sewage Treatment Plant, adjacent to the park which threatens the local communities, South Shore bays and Jones Beach. As we are advised of their plans we will send the information out to you. Congratulations are in order for WSHA and all the concerned citizens of the affected communities.

Update:
Many are concerned that the halt will only last until after the November election. To put a final nail in the development coffin, WSHA & the coalition are hosting an open meeting for all Nassau residents, especially those who use Cedar Creek Park or reside in Wantagh or Seaford. It will be held in the auditorium at Wantagh High School, Beltagh Avenue just east of Wantagh Avenue. Spread the word and let's have a large turnout to stop Nassau County's continuing destruction of the county park system. Your park could be next!