Friends of Levy Preserve tour park

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The commissioner’s report stated, “This follows a difficult winter that saw the preserve closed for snow and ice more often than in years past, a total of 54 days.”

The friends chairman, who owns Merrick House and Gardens, wrote that “with the extensive amount of rain this spring, the various trees and plants on the preserve’s slopes are flourishing.” He told the group, “You’re in the suburbs and then you’re in the Catskills” while visiting the preserve.

He recalled that the late Faith Laursen, the former publisher/editor of Merrick Life, promoted his proposal for an overlook park and preserve on the site of the former town landfill, which she called “Merrick Mountain” in numerous articles over the years, helping his dream become a reality. He also cited the support of then-sanitation commissioner Richard Ronan, of North Merrick.

Friends members at the event also included Neil Yeoman of the Historical Society of the Merricks, Marian Fraker-Gutin of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, and Richard and Lisa Schary of North Bellmore, local environmental activists.

The commissioner’s report stated, “A number of Eagle Scout projects were completed during the past year, including a fishing kiosk near the pier that contains photos and information concerning fishing regulations and fish species found in Merrick Bay.” The kiosk project was completed by William Nolan of North Bellmore. The friends members saw that the pier offers visitors a view of the bay.

“Another project refurbished the guinea fowl house, including roof repair, a new floor with a drain and new roof insulation,” according to the report. Two Scouts, Nicholas Daskalakis of Troop 303 in Oceanside and Malo La Flem, worked independently to refurbish the guinea fowl house.

One Eagle Scout candidate, Matthew Neary of North Merrick, “undertook the repair of the arrows at the plateau viewing station, replacing the edging and filling in the arrows, with a new rubber mulch,” the report stated. “The same scout added benches, both at the arrows and under the switchback gazebo.”

The report noted that another Boy Scout, John D’Avanzo of North Bellmore, “planted pear trees at various locations throughout the preserve.”
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