By:Scott Brinton
Young of Merrick wants to see a hiking and/or bicycling trail developed throughout the woodlands that border the parkway, which would connect Merrick, North Merrick and Freeport. He would like a nature center built there. And he wants to see projects to enhance the forests, such as tree plantings.
Young said, "If at this time next year, people can bring their families in [the woodlands] and enjoy what is there and not be afraid, then we've done our job."
Young's dream for such a park took a step forward this week. On Monday, New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. and Assemblyman David McDonough, both Republicans of Merrick, jointly announced that the state Parks and Transportation departments will undertake a cleanup of the woodlands surrounding the Merrick reservoir off Babylon Turnpike.
In a prepared statement, Fuschillo said, "I commend all the community leaders who have been working together to bring attention to this important issue and share a common goal of restoring this property to its natural beauty."
McDonough said, "It is important that we spread the word throughout the community to help recruit as many volunteers as possible. Working together, we can clean up these beautiful woodlands."
The forest's decayed state came to light recently after Young and environmentalists such as Richard and Lisa Schary of North Bellmore raised the issue in the Herald.
Michael Arens, Fuschillo's chief of staff, said the state is to host a volunteer cleanup of the woodland on Saturday, July 20, with a July 27 rain date.
The state is asking local residents and other interested people to lend a hand in collecting the fields of garbage that mar the property. The DOT and Parks departments are to provide all needed equipment, including gloves, rakes, trash picks and garbage bags. The state will also bring trucks to haul off all trash that is collected, as well as an ample supply of water for all volunteers. And there will be an emergency medical technician standing by.
Volunteers are asked to wear long pants and sturdy footwear -- no sandals or open shoes. A meeting location for volunteers will be announced in the near future. The cleanup is planned for both the Merrick and Freeport sides of the property.
DOT and Parks department workers will also attend to assist with the cleanup, removing heavy debris and loading trucks.
The volunteer cleanup is one part of the state's "action plan" for the woodlands off the Meadowbrook, said Arens. Fuschillo is to announce additional plans for the forests during a meeting with local civic leaders, which is to take place in the coming month.
Reaction to the planned cleanup has been positive. "I think it's good, and obviously I'll be there," said Young. "The environmental tragedy that was created by carelessness and neglect over the last 20 years can no longer be ignored. We owe it to our communities, our families and ourselves to correct this problem."
Young is working to found a friends of the Merrick preserves group, which is aimed at protecting the woodlands long-term. "The Meadowbrook preserves are truly our last woods. We will be working hard to guarantee a large turnout [on July 20] to make a difference," he said.
Michele Walsh, president of the Central Merrick Homeowners Association, said, "I am hoping to see many volunteers come out and give a hand. I look forward to making this a passive and quiet preserve for residents to enjoy."
Nassau County Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick), who along with Legis. Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) is seeking a conference to raise all issues surrounding the woodlands, said of the cleanup: "I think this is terrific."
Denenberg and Gonsalves wanted to hold the conference on Monday, June 24, but delayed it because state officials whom they had invited could not attend. Instead, they are planning the conference for Monday, July 8.
Volunteer cleanups, Denenberg noted, are starting to catch on locally, after Nassau began them at county parks this past year. "Now this is the state doing it [a volunteer cleanup], and a few villages have done it," he said, "so I think the awareness level is increasing and the volunteer level is increasing."
Ultimately, Denenberg said, "What I envision [for the reservoir] is the state coming up with their cleanup plan, and then perpetual preservation under auspices of the county.
"Hopefully, the goal would be, once the property is fixed and secured, to have it transferred to county under the Open Space Parks and Preservation Act of 2001." Then, Denenberg said, the future of the roughly 75-acre woodland would be certain.
Young said that someone -- likely the DOT -- continues to dump waste on the Freeport side of the reservoir, off Sunrise Highway and nearby a stream that leads into the saltwater bays to the south. This last week, he found oil filters from heavy machinery and fresh tar lying amid a pile of waste that only gets bigger by the week. He believes the recent debris are remains of a state road project along the Sunrise Highway that has been ongoing in recent weeks.
Fuschillo said he plans to tour the reservoir with the DOT's regional director soon and point out the debris pile and make sure the DOT cleans it up.
The Herald has also learned that the DOT is developing plans for a bikeway to run along the Meadowbrook Parkway. At press time, however, a DOT representative could not be reached for comment.
