Farmland to stay put

From the Jan. 15, 2009 issue of the East Meadow Herald

The only farm left in East Meadow, a town originally named for its rolling pastures and thriving agriculture, has been purchased by the county as a means of preserving the cherished piece of open space, at the corner of Merrick Avenue and Luddington Road. 

The farm’s owner, Philip Mark Jr., sold the 2.5-acre property to Nassau County for $2.1 million in December. The purchase was funded by a two-part, $150 million Environmental Bond Act passed by voters in 2004 and 2006. 

“I think it was a good thing that the owner of the property felt that he would prefer to look at the open space rather than see 18 homes built,” said County Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). “This is the only piece of property that has not been touched by anybody.” 

“Why shouldn’t East Meadow see something out of that bond?” Gonsalves added. “We voted for it.” 

The Mark family property is one of only five remaining farms in Nassau County. It is commonly referred to as Fruggie’s Farm or Friendly Farm, for two of the property’s most recent tenants. 

Mark, a chemistry professor at Nassau Community College for 35 years and the chairman of the department, still lives next door to the farm, in the brick house on Luddington Road in which he grew up. 

“I always liked open space,” Mark said. “It’s almost like the country. You look out and see the crops growing. It’s nice in the spring to see a revitalization, seeing the plants grow and seeing them develop.”

In the early days of East Meadow, the town lived up to its name: The landscape was mostly open space, and agriculture dominated the economy. The space began disappearing rapidly in the mid-20th century, as more farmers sold their land to developers. But no matter how high the offer, the Mark family never sold out. Even after the death of Mark’s father, Philip Mark Sr., in 1983, he hung onto the farm with his mother, Louise.