EPA will hold forum in Wyandanch

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has chosen Wyandanch as one of several sites around the country in which to host a community “listening session.”

The session will take place Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Wyandanch Community Resource Center. It is part of the EPA’s Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program and is designed to provide officials with insight into what works and what red tape remains in development partnerships between different levels of government.

In the session, Wyandanch community leaders will get the opportunity to talk about the Wyandanch Rising revitalization efforts and to detail both the successes and the stumbling blocks.

Wyandanch Rising is Babylon Town’s $500-million private/public redevelopment project for Wyandanch’s downtown that includes transit-oriented development near the LIRR station, varied housing and the installation of sewers.

According to the EPA, the goal of the Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program is to “develop solutions to environmental problems that are ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable over many generations.”

In addition to Wyandanch, sites chosen for listening sessions include Boston, Mass., Asheville, N.C., Milwaukee, Wis., and Woodbine, Iowa.