(Editor's note: The following is a letter sent to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and Nassau County Town Supervisors from the South Shore Audubon Society. Nassau County is deliberating with the Town of Oyster Bay concerning the transfer of title of Massapequa Preserve and Stillwell Woods Park and Preserve. This is part of the society's opposition.)

The members of the South Shore Audubon Society comprising 1,500 households from Nassau County communities stretching from the Queens County Line to the Suffolk County Line wish to voice their opposition to the giveaway of our Nassau County Parks to local townships. We believe this course of action to be a very costly and irrevocable mistake.

Our Parks and Preserves are the pride of our county, the reason that Nassau County is an attractive place to live and bring up families. We have paid taxes to purchase and maintain these properties, have enjoyed their beauty and wish to continue to do so.

Giving these parks and preserves to the townships will in the long run not save one penny for an individual taxpayer. We all understand that maintenance must be paid for and will be taxed for by any governmental owner of the property.

In addition we as an environmentally aware organization are concerned that the lands, which have been preserved in a "forever wild" status, will be given to townships, which do not have "forever wild" clauses in their legal systems. These preserves are in danger then of being developed, of being sold commercially or of being used in ways that are not consistent with conservation and preservation.

There is a further concern. Money has been granted for massive restoration efforts for some of the areas being considered for transfer. Will Nassau County restore the areas only to then give them away? That seems unfair, outrageous and a wanton disregard for public monies.

A prestigious county, Nassau County, should have glorious parkland, woodland, places for their citizens to renew themselves in an outdoor environment. It is shameful to hand these wonderful resources, which belong to the people of Nassau County over to the townships. These lands are our investment in the future of this County. They are important for our welfare and recreation. And they are an important asset, one that must not be squandered.

South Shore Audubon Society requests that the handover of our Nassau County Parks and Preserves to Townships be stopped.

Michael Sperling., President

Wendy Murbach, Vice President.

South Shore Audubon Society