Highlighting their efforts to achieve state park designation for the only section of the Nassau-Suffolk Trail not yet part of a park or preserve, the Friends of Massapequa Preserve will be hosting a hike this Sunday, March 14, beginning at 11 a.m.

The hike is being sponsored by the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, which is one of several organizations and groups that are in support of designating this area as a state park. Several groups, including the Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Inc., Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale, the Friends of Massapequa Preserve, as well as many elected officials, including the entire Oyster Bay and Hempstead Town Boards, and their respective supervisors, the Nassau County Legislature, local senators and assemblymembers, have written to Commissioner Bernadette Castro at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, voicing their support of the designation.

The area in question encompasses the northern traffic circle near the Bethpage Golf Course to the North Linden Street entrance of the preserve just south of the Southern State Parkway. If this area were to be designated as a state park, the entire Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt corridor would be protected under the jurisdiction of either the state or county.

In his letter to Commissioner Castro, Guy Jacob, conservation chair, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, stated that dedicating the lands on both the east and west sides of the Bethpage State Parkway as a state park would expand and strengthen Bethpage State Park.

"It's preservation would create a greater functional link between these public lands," he said. "Moreover, two highly popular trails meander through the east side of this corridor; sections of both the Bethpage Bikeway and the nationally recognized Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail make their way through this section of the corridor. On the west side ... this is an unmaintained, paved bicycle path; it is narrower than the one on the east side, has some brush overgrowing on it and is cracked in some spots; but given a little attention, it would be good as new."

Jacob further noted that generic state land does not have the same level of protection and respect that a state park does, and therefore feels that this "valuable tract of land needs to have its status upgraded."

There have been a number of problems in the area over the months and years, including litter, overgrown gardens and holes. Having the land designated as a state park would help protect the property.

Members of the Friends of Massapequa Preserve have gathered at the area, often with local dignitaries and officials, as well as residents and neighbors, to clean up the property. They recently held an Earth Day cleanup along the trail.

Last November, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto also wrote to the state, placing a strong emphasis on the importance of preserving undeveloped land.

"The section of land in question consists of beautiful trees and trails and has, for many years, remained a natural buffer to the parkway and nearby residences," Venditto said. "Nonetheless, encroachments onto public lands are all too common, and this corridor needs to be officially protected by designating it as a state park. While I don't see this land ever being developed, it is, technically, considered a right of way and could conceivably be used for other purposes. It needs to be protected. Declaring it a state park would achieve that goal."

Many other elected officials, including Senators Fuschillo and Hannon and Assemblymen Sidikman and DiNapoli, have written to the commissioner voicing both their concerns and the concerns of those residents they represent in office. Commissioner Castro, in her response to Jacob's letter last October, noted that she will discuss with her colleagues at the Department of Transportation the issue of the pedestrian/bike parkway on the western side of the corridor to determine the feasibility of improving the existing pathway section. She also noted that the NYS Office of Parks was currently in the process of having Trail View State Park surveyed and monumented to prevent some of the problems that are occurring on other state lands.

As they wait for updated information, local organizations and officials continue to urge state park officials and Governor Pataki to designate this area as a state park or preserve. Sunday's hike will highlight these efforts. Beginning at 11 a.m., the hike will consist of about three or four miles, in an easy, flat area. Children 10 and older are welcome. Residents interested in participating should take the Southern State Parkway to exit 31N (Bethpage Parkway), go north on Boundary Avenue, exit B2, and park on the west side at Boundary Avenue. This is a weather-permitting hike and will be cancelled in the event of rain or heavy snow. For more information, call Rich or Lisa at 826-8339.