Crab Meadow Beach named after former Huntington supervisor Frank Petrone

Crab Meadow Beach in Northport will be named for Huntington’s longest-serving town supervisor in honor of his various contributions to the town.

The facility on Waterside Avenue will be renamed the Frank P. Petrone Crab Meadow Beach in October.

Town Board member Joan Cergol sponsored the resolution at the July 12 town board meeting.

“There are remnants of Frank’s legacy that remain a part of the town’s government,” Cergol said. “He’s left a lasting imprint so why shouldn’t we honor that.”

Petrone, who now lives in Lake Worth, Florida, said he is thrilled and touched by the honor, and is happy he is able to appreciate it.

“It’s especially nice that it’s Crab Meadow because we put a lot into it over the years,” Petrone said. “Between redoing it, expanding it, developing the environmental areas within it, it’s fitting.”

In 2017, Petrone announced he would not seek reelection after serving as supervisor for 24 years.

Cergol, who was an employee of Petrone for 16 years, said she has learned “so much” about government from him.

She said his contributions to the town are numerous, including improving the town’s financial status from near bankruptcy; supporting and funding programs for senior citizens and youth; ongoing revitalization of Huntington Station and the town’s first affordable housing development.   

Petrone led efforts on environmental issues including state of the art improvements to Huntington’s Sewer Treatment plant. He also led several green initiatives including the creation of the Environmental Open Space and Park Fund, which purchases land to preserve open space and bring about neighborhood enhancements; the creation of the Crab Meadow Watershed Advisory Committee; and approved a master plan for Crab Meadow Beach and the Jerome Ambro Memorial Wetlands Preserve.

The measure was approved 5-0.

“It was a unanimous bipartisan affirmation of Frank Petrone’s contribution to the town,” Cergol said of the vote.

Current Supervisor Ed Smyth said Petrone led significant revitalization and conservation efforts across the Crab Meadow Watershed, “which makes the dedication of Crab Meadow Beach an appropriate recognition of what he accomplished during his 24-year tenure."

A ceremony is planned for Oct. 14.