By Scott Brinton
Barry Fox, president of the Merrick Park Home Owners Association, which covers Merrick Woods, had waged a 25-year fight to have the woodland preserved "in perpetuity," meaning that it could never be developed. In past years, Fox said, the town tacitly agreed to leave the forest alone, without designating it as a sanctuary.
That, however, wasn't good enough for Fox, who believed that unless the property was designated as a preserve, it could be developed at any time.
The battle came to a head last July, when Fox discovered a group of contractors tearing down trees and underbrush in the forest, which sits due south of his home. The men said a local real-estate broker had given them the OK to clear the land so they could build a parking lot for their trucks and heavy machinery.
The broker said she never gave them men the go-ahead to clear town property, but did OK the clearing of a small strip of privately owned land between the town land and local homes.
Following a front-page Herald article about the case, the Town of Hempstead investigated, as did Nassau County Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick), who called on the county District Attorney's office to get involved as well.
Fox said town officials gave him the news last week that the property would become Hempstead's first wildlife sanctuary, which is to remain untouched. The town has designated other lands, such as the Norman J. Levy Park in south Merrick, as nature preserves. Fox stressed that the Merrick Woods property, more than three acres in size, would not become a park, but rather would remain wild.
Town officials could not be reached for comment at press time, as Tuesday was Election Day. In a recent newsletter to Merrick residents, however, Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino (R-Point Lookout) and Councilwoman Angelina Cullin (R-Freeport) issued a joint statement about the planned sanctuary.
They wrote, "We are introducing a town ordinance designating vacant property on the east side of Hewlett Avenue (north of the railroad and south of Seneca Drive South) as a wildlife sanctuary.
"This greenway provides a beautiful sound and visual buffer for local homeowners. The establishment of this sanctuary will benefit both the environment and the suburban character of the neighborhood."
Fox was elated on Tuesday. "We're thrilled to death," he said, speaking on behalf of the homeowners' group.
"We feel greatly indebted to the Merrick Herald," he added, because the paper covered the story about the property being clear-cut when "no one else was interested in publishing it."
JH
