County To Retake Responsibility for Preserve

The Friends of Sands Point Preserve will no longer be at the helm of the preserve, according to Nassau County.

On Jan. 1, 2011, "Parks [department] will begin taking over the operations and maintenance," noted a spokesman for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, on Monday. The county had to give at least 30 days notice, according to Martino.

At issue were alleged environmental practices, which the county and Friends had claimed to address in October. Yet now, the county wants to resume control.

But on Tuesday, news of the upcoming county stewardship seemed to come as a surprise to Friends.

"The process of notification has not been followed," said Jean-Marie Posner, vice-chair of Friends of Sands Point Preserve. "None of this has been communicated."

She added that the county has always been supportive of Friends. "They endorsed what we were doing," she said. "We came to them for approvals."

Still, the county says that the Friends was informed of its decision.

Parks Commissioner Carnell Foskey said he informed Friends that the issues raised by environmentalists were serious, and that they shouldn't be dismissed as old news. Also, that there would be consequences.

"People outside the area are concerned about the preserve," Foskey said. 

Posner said that Friends was in the process of working with community groups with respect to uses of the preserve that respect nature and wildlife and that are consistent with the agreement with the county.

Meanwhile, with the county planning to take control, there is no money in the 2011 budget for the preserve. No word yet on how its maintenance and operations will be funded.