On Sunday June 4, the Friends of the Massapequa Preserve and the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference conducted a guided hike through the woods alongside the Bethpage State Parkway, also known as the Bethpage State Parkway corridor. The purpose of the hike was to raise awareness about an ongoing campaign to have this area declared a New York State Park or a southern extension of Bethpage State Park.

"This area is out of control," said Rich Schary who is president of the Friends of the Massapequa Preserve as well as a board member of the Long Island Greenbelt Conference. "We want somebody to take responsibility for it. We want somebody to maintain this area and put up signs that state what the rules and regulations are."

The area in question is an approximately three-mile stretch of woods alongside the Bethpage State Parkway. It is located between the Southern State Parkway, where the county-controlled Massapequa Preserve ends, and Bethpage State Park. According to Schary, there has been ambiguity regarding the area because it does not fall under either state or county control.

"There have been fires, vandalism, dumping and off-road vehicles on the paths," said Schary. "This is the third time that we've done this hike. The first time there were ATVs and motorcycles on the bicycle path. Last time, we encountered young people with 12-packs of beer. The bike trail on the west side of the parkway is all torn up. It's a disgrace."

The persistent rain that has been falling on Long Island threatened to cancel the walk. Cloudy skies loomed, but the rain held off and the hike went on as planned. In addition to the hikers, Assemblyman Joseph Saladino and Legislator David Mejias were on hand to lend their support.

"It is essential to protect this important environmental resource so that we may keep it preserved for our children and our grandchildren," said Assemblyman Saladino. "As a member of the New York State Environmental Conservation Committee, I will continue to push for the preservation of our woodlands and open space."

Added Nassau County Legislator David Mejias, "This is a very important part of our community. I live here. I trained for the marathon here. For years, this area has been neglected and now the county is making sure that it will be kept in pristine condition. We passed legislation that includes fines for ATVs in county parks and we are recharging our lakes and creeks."

Another group, the Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale, is also lobbying to have the area declared a state park, or become part of Bethpage State Park. According to the association's president, Mike Grello, declaring the area a state park would give it the protection of a state park. That would mean that state police could protect the area. It would also mean that the maintenance of the area would be the state's responsibility and more in line with the upkeep that a preserve requires.

"This proposal will mean less problems with jurisdiction, better policing and better maintenance," Grello added. "After several civic groups for several years have gathered over 50 signatures from elected officials in support of our plan, it is hard to believe that Governor Pataki and Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro refuse to accept the merits of our proposal and move forward with the ultimate protection that this open space deserves."

Anyone interested in learning more about the effort to have the Bethpage Parkway corridor declared a state park may contact the Friends of the Massapequa Preserve at 541-2461 or visit www.fdale.com/FMP/FMP.htm. Additionally, information is available at the Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale's website which is www.ccaf-civic.org.