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Mejias discusses Preserve improvements and tackles concerns
"I've brought these departments together so we can finally get some answers as to where we call when we have a problem," said Mejias who lives in South Farmingdale's Viceroy section, and frequents the preserve on a daily basis. "At one time, the stream and ponds held wild fish, and we'd like to return to that rather than having to stock the area every year so people can fish," said Brian Schneider of Nassau County Public Works. The restoration includes dredging some areas and widening others on the stream that runs along the bike path, as well as replacing the pipeline that runs directly beneath. Therefore, during construction, the well-utilized path from Brady Park to Linden Street will be torn up and unusable, though detours will be provided. "We hope to stabilize the area and make it more native so that natural vegetation can support the stream rather than putting in the man-made concrete or metal baskets that are being used now," Schneider said adding that the project will be paid for through the 1996 Clear Air/Water Bond Act and Nassau County capital projects. Additional work includes dredging of the ponds and segregating them to keep out polluted storm water that runs into the area through catch basins. The ponds, built in the 1960s, will get dams and be restored with 8,000 gallons of clean, filtered catch basin water pumped through them and into the stream, after the process is complete. Not all residents were happy with what they heard, however. South Farmingdale residents were upset to learn that this work will not be undertaken in the Viceroy section of the woods. "This area has been dry for too many years and it will dry up again," said Schneider in explaining the departments decision. "If we were to do this in that area, the water will just dissipate into the ground again." Because the bike path from Massapequa to Bethpage above Southern State Parkway is not part of the 423-acre Massapequa Preserve, residents and civic leaders aren't clear about who to call for cleanups and emergencies in those wooded areas. Mike Cronin, commanding officer at the 8th Precinct said that police handle many complaints of this kind and have been responsive. "We have added a youth patrol, seven days a week, that will help with many of these complaints," he told the crowd. "But keep in mind that the patrol has a list of over 30 complaint locations in addition to the woods." Cronin pointed out that complaints about kids hanging out in the woods is nothing new. What is new, he said is that many of today's kids "are more destructive and brazen." At times during the meeting even the officials representing the New York State Police Department, Nassau County Police , N.Y.S. Parks, Nassau County Parks, Public Works, Town of Oyster Bay Parks and Highway appeared confused when fielding questions about who covers what. It was decided that signage or logos painted and placed along the bike path would be helpful to define the jurisdictions of the various departments and agencies for residents. "It's simple, you just need signs like we have in Massapequa," said Richard Schary, president of the Friends of the Massapequa Preserve, addressing residents north of Southern State Parkway. "Once those are in place, you'll be able to call someone 24 hours a day with complaints. Your area is out of control...let's get this problem solved."
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