By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
But beginning this October, the county has instituted a no-dogs policy on the beach with signs posted to that effect.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, over 200 Nassau County residents (400 if you include their dogs) walked onto the Nickerson Beach in Lido Beach protesting the closing of the dog beach. Protesters waved signs which read "Democrats hate dogs" and "dogs vote."
The controversy began in February, with a phone call from a Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino to Nassau County Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Museums Doreen Banks, "ranting" about unsanitary beach conditions, environmental concerns and the liability caused by the dogs sparked an investigation which led to the closing of the dog beach, a Nassau County official familiar with the closing said.
And, in a February interview with the Herald, Banks said that since the Town of Hempstead provides lifeguards at Nassau Beach, Guardino indicated to her the Town wouldn't allow lifeguards on the beach with those conditions earlier this year.
A Town of Hempstead spokesperson said there was "no linkage" between the lifeguards and the dogs on the beach.
As of press time, Banks failed to return repeated phone calls for this story.
According to a letter written by Banks on Feb. 28 to Long Beach resident George Ridler, who has fought to keep the beach open, responding on behalf of Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, "many problems" have been created by the open dog beach policy. Owners not observing leash laws, neglecting to clean up dog waste and dogs damaging the protected habitat of Piping Plovers are among the reasons why the beach was closed, according to the letter.
Since county residents paid for the creation and maintenance of the park, the letter stated, "they should expect the full enjoyment of the beaches without the concern that they will be exposed to dog waste or dogs off the leash. It is a quality-of-life matter."
Still, residents like Diane Scorcia, don't feel the county's reasons warrant the closing.
"They haven't given us a good reason why they are doing it," she said. "No one has made it clear why they are not reopening it."
According to a letter dated April 24 from Suozzi to Ridler reiterating the reasons for the no-dog policy, he wrote that his administration's mission is to solve Nassau County's fiscal woes and eliminate wasteful spending.
"During this period we have identified many areas wrought with waste and many areas ideal for savings," stated the letter. "Please keep in mind that the overriding and immediate concern of this administration is the Nassau County Budget...all of our decisions have to be made with the county's finances in mind."
But dog owners are unhappy and residents have proposed a compromise. Since the Piping Plovers do not nest from October through March, a dog section should be made available, Ridler proposed.
To ensure undisturbed nesting areas, a fenced in walkway through could be created. The dogs would be leashed through the walkway and once through, they could be unleashed. Dogs could remain unleashed only in a clearly marked area 100 feet north of the tide line and 100 yards east and west of this area. Owners would agree to clean up after their dogs, and overly aggressive, vicious or dogs in heat would not be allowed.
"The ball is in the court of Suozzi," Ridler said.
Sylvia Klein, who has brought her German short-haired pointer Maxi to the beach for the last two years, is against closing the beach.
"It's unfair," she said. "We are trying to get our beach back. How can they refuse 300 people? We are responsible for our dogs."
And, Klein pointed out that people who use the beach in the summer litter the beach with more debris than the dogs.
Chris Milletari of East Rockaway brings his border collie mix, Rollie, to romp around in the sand. He said he hopes the county would understand that "we are only asking for eight months of the year...we are being really flexible. We just want others to be flexible."
Still, the county is holding firm on their decision and reminded residents that numerous dog runs, including one at Nickerson Beach, still exist.
"We are sympathetic to the protesters but there are environmental, security and liability problems," Nassau County Director of Public Policy and Communications Bruce Nyman said. "We just can't allow the dogs on the beach as we have for many years. We are following the advice and counsel of the New York State Parks Department and the Town of Hempstead and Long Beach, none of whom allow dogs on the beach."
