The pair took up the cause recently after a Herald series brought the forests' condition to light.
Representatives from the Nassau County Police, Department of Public Works, Town of Hempstead DPW, Highways Department, New York State Department of Environment of Conservation, Department of Transportation and State Police attended the summit.
Denenberg said, "What we talked about eventually is having a [park] for passive use, for hiking, biking or other passive uses. These [woodlands] need to be accessible, and to allay any unneeded concerns [of residents], it should be accessible from streets and not residential blocks."
The first step in eventually creating passive parks along the Meadowbrook and/or Wantagh parkways is cleaning up the woodlands, and so, Denenberg encouraged residents to volunteer for a state cleanup of the Merrick reservoir on Saturday, July 20. State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) is sponsoring the project.
Next, Denenberg said, a comprehensive management plan is needed for the woodlands, which are primarily owned by the state Parks Department. The suggestion for a management plan came from the DEC, Denenberg said. And he noted that the Parks Department was the only involved agency not to attend the July 8 meeting.
To volunteer for the July 20 cleanup, call Sen. Fuschillo's Freeport office at (516) 546-4100.
