Various environmental and civic groups, including Friends of Massapequa Preserve and Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale (CCAF), elected officials and local residents have recently pledged their support for a proposal that would preserve a section of the former Massapequa State Park.

The property extends approximately two miles, beginning just north of the Southern State Parkway and extending to Fallwood Parkway and Robert Street in Farmingdale. It is bordered on the west by East Drive in North Massapequa, and on the east by Woodward Parkway in Farmingdale.

This land, known to the CCAF as the Farmingdale extension of the Massapequa Preserve, and referred to as the Viceroy Section by Friends of Massapequa Preserve, is currently a passive preserve, rich in history and abundant wildlife.

The land was formerly owned by the City of Brooklyn until City of Brooklyn became incorporated into New York City, and the land became the property of New York City. When New York City abandoned the water supply, they sold the land to Nassau County back in the 1980s. Nassau County subsequently sold the land to the state and the state leased the land back to the county.

"The point is," explained President of Friends of Massapequa Preserve Richard Schary, "for a long time, we didn't know who owned it. Now that we know, we have begun a letter writing campaign to the state asking them to approve the proposal."

Schary said his original proposal was to dedicate this parcel of land as an extension of Massapequa Preserve, since the county already calls it Massapequa Preserve. Another idea would be to incorporate it into a new state park, which would then connect with Bethpage State Park and the Trailview State Park. At the same time, Schary is also pushing for the rest of the Bethpage Corridor on both sides of the Bethpage Parkway to be designated a state park, either as an extension of Bethpage State Park, or as part of the Trailview State Park, or as separate state park land.

"Right now, this area is vandalized, trashed, no one is taking care of it the way it should be," Schary said. "There is occasional maintenance along the Bethpage Parkway, but there are still a lot of problems."

Schary emphasized that the designation would be for a passive use park only. "When we say park, people think parking lots, buses and picnic areas. We envision bike paths and walking paths, nothing more."

The Board of Directors and members of CCAF, in a letter to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, stated, "The members of the CCAF feel it is imperative to preserve this property as open space and wetlands. An ecological study would find flora and fauna to be consistent with that found in the rest of the Massapequa Preserve. It is currently home to tortoises, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, possum, shrews, and other assorted members of the rodent family, frogs and many species of birds. The land supports many indigenous trees, shrubs, wildflowers and fern, as well as a pond and a creek. It is also a wonderful hiking and bird watching area."

"This is an exciting proposal," Schary said. "We're not asking for any money, it does not involve any money. What we are proposing can be decided on with the stroke of a pen."

A hike on May 10 hosted by Friends of the Massapequa Preserve, will show participants firsthand the unmarked and long-ignored Viceroy and Albany Avenue sections of the woodlands. Meet at 11 a.m. at Mansfield Park parking lot on Walker Street, located five blocks south of Linden Street, one block west of Lake Shore Drive. The hike is 3-4 miles, easy paced. Rain date is May 17.

For more information call 541-2461.