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.