Thursday, October 1, 2026
Eleven bags of litter were pulled from the trails and public areas of Tackapausha Museum and Preserve on Aug. 7 as local Scouts, volunteers and State Sen. Steve Rhoads spent the morning cleaning up the Seaford preserve.
Members of Wantagh Boy Scout Troop 96 and Girl Scout Troop 3209 joined Rhoads and members of his office for the cleanup, collecting bottles, cans, wrappers, plastics and other debris along the preserve’s trails.
The effort was organized by Rhoads’ intern, Aidan Saxe, who spearheaded the cleanup and coordinated the volunteers. Fellow intern Benjamin Kugal also helped organize the event and participated in the cleanup.
The cleanup was part of Rhoads’ ongoing efforts to organize community service projects throughout the 5th Senate District. The senator has previously participated in and organized cleanups aimed at improving local parks and public spaces.
For the Scouts who participated, the event also provided an opportunity to put community service into practice while helping maintain a natural area used by residents throughout the area.
Tackapausha Museum and Preserve, which sits along Washington Avenue in Seaford, includes trails, wooded areas, habitats and open spaces that provide opportunities for recreation and help support local wildlife.
Litter left behind in those areas can affect wildlife and eventually make its way into nearby waterways. Removing it also helps keep the preserve's trails and public areas more inviting for visitors.
“Environmental stewardship starts right here at home,” Rhoads said. “I’ve always believed that if you see a problem in your community, you shouldn’t just point it out, you should roll up your sleeves and help solve it.”
Rhoads said the 11 bags collected during the cleanup represent a relatively small effort compared with larger environmental initiatives, but argued that maintaining local public spaces is an important part of environmental stewardship.
“Every bag of litter we remove makes a difference and helps ensure these beautiful places remain here for our children and grandchildren to enjoy,” he said.
The event also highlighted the role of local Scouts in community service projects. Members of both troops worked alongside Rhoads’ staff throughout the cleanup, spending time along the trails looking for smaller pieces of litter as well as larger pieces of trash.
Rhoads thanked the Scouts, interns and other volunteers who participated.
“Protecting our environment isn’t just about big policies, it’s also about taking care of the places right outside our doors,” he said. “When we work together, we can leave our parks and public spaces better than we found them.”
Rhoads said he plans to continue working with local residents, Scouts and community organizations on additional cleanups and other projects focused on Long Island’s parks, preserves and public spaces.
