PARCnassau

Park Advocacy & Recreation Council of Nassau. A coalition of 150 park advocacy and/or user groups with a combined membership of over 250,000 county residents.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

Town of North Hempstead destroying wetlands in Port Washington

Thursday, April 05, 2012
North Hempstead destroying precious wetlands in Port Washington
Back in 2005, Nassau County gave away 13 county parks to North Hempstead in a backroom deal that was to save the county money and give North Hempstead bragging rights about acquiring "new" parkland. We opposed this believing both county and town residents would lose in this deal.

Hempstead Harbor Beach and Parkland, that straddle West Shore Road in Port Washington, was one of the facilities given away by the county.

In 2009 NYS DEC learned the town was filling in some wetlands on the west side of West Shore road to build a parking lot. They stopped the destruction of the wet lands.

Quietly, this spring, the town has begun again to drain and fill the wetlands for more parking. The area they are ruining is a favorite of hikers, birders and those who enjoy the natural beauty of undeveloped parklands.

Not only are there actions in violation of DEC regulations but also are considered Alienation of Parkland by NYS case law.

Request all those against these violations, let the Town of North Hempstead, NYS DEC and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation know as soon as possible.

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