Rally Supporting New Marina At Nissequogue River State Park Held

SMITHTOWN, NY — A rally was held before New Year's Day to support the D.E.C. Marine Resources Headquarters and new marina in the Nissequogue River State Park. Local Kings Park organizations requested the rally after an Article 78 proceeding was filed by the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation against the projects, according to the Smithtown Supervisor Ed
Wehrheim's office.

Wehrheim hosted the rally alongside County Executive Steve Bellone, Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick, Kings Park Chamber of Commerce & Civic Associations leadership and Union leaders as a show of solidarity.

"The community grew fearful that the only opinion that leadership in Albany would hear of was that of one organization in opposition," Wehrheim said, according to a press release. "Hence the rally to show support for this project was put in motion. The people of Kings Park have worked tirelessly to see its revitalization. This project would provide a major boost to the small business community. But most importantly, the project means a major investment in our local ecosystem. From restoring our shellfish population to providing educational programs for our youth. It’s a game changer for Kings Park."

The proposed projects could bring 500 construction jobs, 100 permanent positions, and an added year-round police presence in the state park. The Article 78 proceeding could put the Kings Park community in jeopardy of losing all that, according to the supervisor's office.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) and the NYS Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation had plans to construct a state-of-the-art 25,000-square foot LEED green building that would act as the headquarters for the D.E.C.'s Division of Marine Resources, as well as build a brand new marina.

The current marina would be returned to their natural wetlands, restoring aquatic habitats for plant and marine life in the Nissequogue. The multi-million dollar investment in the Kings Park Community includes the addition of a D.E.C. Marine Enforcement Unit to provide year-round law enforcement presence at the park. The Headquarters will also serve as an FDA certified shellfish laboratory.

"The D.E.C. Marine Resources Headquarters and new marina locating in the park would generate a tremendous economic boost to the community, which has never recovered from the closing of the State Hospital over 23 years ago," the release states.

Bellone pointed out the far-reaching impact of the project while addressing the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation.

" You have every right to disagree. You have every right to say, 'I want something different,'" Bellone said. "But that doesn’t mean that a project should be stopped. There’s a consensus here on what we need to do and we need to move forward. This project has the support of the local town government, the support of community organizations, here in Kings Park who’ve been fighting for the revitalization of the downtown in this community. It has the support of the State and the Governor and it has the support of the County. It is time to move this project forward."

Matt Aracich, president of Building & Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties, said the cost of halting the project would be unemployment.

"There’s already 500 jobs slated for this particular project," he said according to the release. "When a contractor takes these projects, they take limited amounts, because they don’t want to expand their reach to the point where they can no longer perform. So the contractor says 'I’ve taken this job, it’s slated to go. I’ve put other projects on hold or not bid on them, because I’m doing this one.' Now that’s it’s on hold, this contractor is in the position where he now has to lay people off."

Tony Tanzi, Kings Park Chamber of Commerce president, said plans to construct the D.E.C. Marine Bureau Headquarters and new marina were launched years ago and cited public input meetings and the State’s efforts to address and implement those ideas and concerns shared by the community.

"This was an entire community that came together to say we want better for our town," he said. "And we worked hard to get there. We subsequently went to every other organization in the community, and we asked them, 'How do you feel about this project?' Because maybe we got it wrong. Maybe there was a larger undercurrent of people who were against this. To every organization; 'We’re in Favor.' 'We’re in Favor.' 'We’re in Favor.' Kings Park deserves this. I certainly appreciate the jobs that will be created by it. But there’s such a broader reach that would happen."

Patch reached out to the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation for comment.