Officially named a natural resource area perpetual preserve, the property can never again be developed, save for park benches and a nature walking trail — much to the satisfaction of Baldwin residents who opposed Molloy College’s proposal to develop the property for athletic fields and a nature preserve. That proposal was ultimately defeated after County Executive Tom Suozzi stated he was not going to lease the parcel to Molloy as a result of the strong opposition.
The parcel does require some environmental remediation work, as it was a former dumping ground for the old Garden City Hotel debris. While the county says they will remove oil drums that remain on the property, they do not currently have the financial resources to do a complete environmental cleanup. There is money available from the county's 2006 Environmental Bond Act, but none has been set aside specifically for the Coes Neck property as of yet. Cleanup funding will likely have to come from outside sources, such as the town, state or federal government.
Additionally, the county has stated that they will likely not be able to police the property, and many residents are concerned about potential hazards that may arise once the property is open to the public. One particular aspect residents are worried about is the property's lake, estimated at 26-feet-deep, which currently has no fence or barrier to keep residents away. County officials have stated that there are many Long Island preserves that are supervised only by residents in that area, and that many of them are only open during times when people are available to do it.
For many area residents, some who have lived next to the property for decades, the perpetual preserve title is sufficient for now, as it prevents any outside party from developing the property. In the future, however, residents would like to see it safely remediated and aesthetically appealing for the benefit of all Nassau County residents.
