Suffolk panel OKs $17.8M for park purchase

The price of acquiring what officials call "Suffolk's last great park" became public Monday as the proposed $18.3 million sale of a private Riverhead hunting preserve cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The Suffolk County Legislature's environment and planning committee unanimously approved resolutions authorizing spending $17.8 million for the 304-acre North Fork Preserve. The Riverhead town board previously voted to provide $500,000 toward the purchase.

But Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) warned that final votes on the purchase, which could come as early as Oct. 11, might be delayed because he wants the county to consider moving the trap and skeet range from South Haven Park in Yaphank to the new park.

Riverhead, in agreeing to share the cost, stipulated that no trap and skeet range could be included in park plans.

"I don't think Riverhead should be driving the train if they are only contributing 5 percent," Lindsay said after the committee vote.

Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches), the bill's sponsor, expressed confidence the vote will go forward, emphasizing that money for the land comes from a voter-approved fund for critical environmental purchases.

"We got a tremendous bargain," he said, with the price equaling about $60,000 an acre. "It's the last big chunk of land, that will be used by generations to come."

County parks officials have detailed tentative plans that include hundreds of camping sites for recreational vehicles, tents, lean-tos and cabins as well as ballfields, hiking trails and ponds for fishing and paddle boats.