Hearing set for Jamesport State Park draft plan

BARBARAELLEN KOCH FILE PHOTO
Governor George Pataki with NY State Commissioner of Parks Bernadette Castro and other officials unveil the sign at Hallockville Museum Farm for the new Jamesport State Park in May 2005.

A public hearing on a draft master plan for Jamesport State Park, which
under that proposal would be renamed Hallock State Park Preserve, has
been set for May 18.

The
hearing, held by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Naugles Barn
at Hallockville Museum Farm on Sound Avenue in Riverhead.

Under
the proposed plan, the entire 220-acre park would be classified as a
nature preserve and would include trails for hiking, walking and
horseback riding with the proper permit,

Scuba diving and
fishing in Long Island Sound would be allowed with a permit, although
fishing, scuba diving, boating and bathing would all be prohibited at
Hallock’s Pond, according to the proposal. Biking and ATV vehicles will
not be permitted at the park.

The state, which bought the
property in 2002, has earmarked more than $4 million to build
infrastructure, maintain the land and construct an environmental
education center.

The property, which is actually in Northville,
stretches from Sound Avenue to the Sound and includes open plains, a
tidal pond, thick woods and a mile-long stretch of pristine beach. It
has previously been used for farming, sand mining and as a summer camp,
according to the master plan summary.

Copies of the draft plan
are available at Wildwood State Park, Riverhead Free Library and online
at http://nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/public-documents.aspx

Those
who wish to comment but can’t attend the hearing can mail statements to
Ronald Foley, Regional Director, NYS OPRHP Long Island Region, Regional
Headquarters, 625 Belmont Ave., Babylon, NY 11704.

VERA CHINESE