Suffolk takes title to Riverhead preserve

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced Thursday that the county has taken title to Riverhead's 300-acre North Fork Preserve, which it purchased for $17.8 million.

"This is a crown jewel in the county holdings," Levy said in a brief ceremony in front of the entryway's stone pillars, each topped with sculpted ducks in flight. "This is a parcel that generations in the future will look back fondly [on]."

The county formally closed on the tract on Thanksgiving Eve, and park officials say the property is now open to the public for hiking, though there is no staff supervision.

Parks officials have laid out preliminary plans for the southern 180 acres that include trailer and tent camping sites, cabins, ballfields and paddle boating. Tennis courts and a clubhouse already exist on the property. There is no timetable for the park's full development. The northern 126 acres will be limited to such passive park uses as hiking.

The property had been operated as a private hunting club since 1983.

Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches), who sponsored the acquisition resolution, said "this is going to be Suffolk's last great park." Romaine said the county will begin negotiating to acquire 50 adjoining acres for an equestrian center.

The price for that parcel is expected to be far lower than market value because Suffolk already owns development rights under the county farmland program. The county will only have to pay about 10 percent of the land's original value to acquire full title.