Appreciating — and preserving — what we have

It is often said grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, meaning that what exists outside of our lives is typically more appealing than what exists inside.

When it comes to Long Island residents and nature, this saying is especially true.

Simply ask them where they would like to go for a nature getaway. The odds are, they will name somewhere like Lake George, the Berkshires, the Poconos, or maybe somewhere in the South.

Why is this? Probably because stunning mountains, large lakes, babbling streams, and generally quiet natural areas are not anything we have on Long Island. For those of us who live in the concrete jungle that the American suburb is becoming — sleeping to the sound of trains and cars, nightmarish traffic on the drive to work, and very little open green space — these destinations far from Long Island, and away from all of that, can be a much-needed escape.

But this attitude overlooks what we have here. To residents of the Adirondacks, for example, those mountains are nothing special — they’re just home.

Just like Jones Beach is, for all of us, just home.

Jones Beach is the magnum opus of Long Island nature. It offers a unique experience, with bays, barrier islands, dunes, tons of animals and plants to see, and more. There is no shortage of swimming, fishing and hiking available — all within nature, as opposed to some artificial, man-made environment.

But in line with the “grass is always greener” view, Jones Beach is unremarkable in many of our minds. You go there, get some sun or see a concert, and go home. And that’s that. Yet we should not take such an amazing attraction for granted.

More than 8.5 million people visited Jones Beach State Park last year, according to the governor’s office. While it might seem no different to us than any other attraction, Jones Beach is a highly popular travel destination. Think of the number of businesses in Wantagh and Seaford that benefit from this tourism.

Businesses like the Wantagh Inn. Mike Dunphy, its owner, suggested last January that proximity to Jones Beach is partly what has allowed his business to thrive since he opened in 1984. One can imagine that nearby businesses in Wantagh-Seaford benefit in similar ways from Jones Beach.

In addition to preservation of the beautiful nature we have right here at home, we benefit financially from Jones Beach State Park being in pristine shape.

Keeping it this way is of utmost importance.

Think for a second about why so many people come to Jones Beach. We live on an island, so you can go in any direction and end up on a beach. Perhaps you say it’s the waves — but then, why don’t the South Shore beaches out east attract as many visitors as Jones Beach?

Unique among beaches on Long Island, Jones Beach is immersive. It has many fields. It has the bay. It has the ocean. And to top it all off, the drive to the park alone takes one away from the suburban sprawl very quickly and into something that resembles Long Island’s pre-industrial natural past.

Whether you’re going to see a concert or to get a tan, this immersive experience is universal.

Maybe it’s not the waves or the amenities of Jones Beach themselves, but rather the beautiful, scenic, and above all, natural environment they are set in. Consciously or not, we ultimately love Jones Beach because it offers a bit of escapism without having to go far.

You may see dolphins out in the water. You may see turtles, foxes, piping plovers, and a wide array of other animals that call Jones Beach home. These alone may not be what moves people to go to Jones Beach, but they speak to the pristine environment that is the park.

So, this summer, as you keep off the dunes, and bring your sandwiches and drinks to hear music or lie in the sun, don’t forget how truly special Jones Beach is. It’s the heart and soul of Wantagh-Seaford. And in the summer, especially, it is a boon for local businesses.

Jones Beach is a gem of Long Island nature, and the pride of Wantagh-Seaford.