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Quality Parks

News & Events

Foul Play to Boy's Endless Summer Beach Fun

8/8/2022

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Port Jefferson - Sometimes you want to just cry about the injustice adults put upon a twelve year old kid.  I drove over to East Beach where no sign, nor any lifeguard knew of this mid August beach closure.

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The Yellow Intruder

7/20/2022

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In 2013, I purchased a butterfly milkweed at Cathy's Flower Stand in Mt. Sinai thinking it was our native butterfly milkweed. I planted it in the backyard, and all was fine until it bloomed yellow. Not only that, but it impacted the butterfly milkweed I was growing commercially at the front of the property. Many were no longer orange. Read More
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From Maine to LI, marine debris fouls environment

7/6/2022

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Dead Bird Trapped in Marine Debris - Maine
Long Island Sound - Marine Debris
Maine - "Unfortunately, seabirds are currently struggling against marine debris found in the Gulf of Maine. Tiny sea islands can be found not too far from the coast of Maine where they are uninhabited making a great area for colonies of nesting seabirds. However, this wonderful remote nesting area is becoming an endangerment to wild life due to the "pervasive hand of human influence". Lobster traps, buoys, ropes, etc. are found piled into mountains three to four feet high. The island is adapting to this disaster causing rocks and grass to grow around them. The worst part of this is that seabirds are building there nests within these piles. There are authors who have written articles discussing the types of harmful debris, how these debris cause harm to birds, and strategies to reduce the trash." ​ - Jahdai-H; QP volunteer - in reviewing USFWS
Long Island - "While there were already many organizations, agencies and individuals addressing marine debris in Long Island Sound, this plan represents the culmination of numerous discussions among these interested parties to develop a comprehensive framework of strategic actions to mitigate the impacts of marine debris over the next five years (2022-2027). Associated tracking and monitoring will enable all involved to assess collective progress towards achieving the identified goals." -   May 2022 Long Island Sound Marine Debris Action Plan.
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The Browns River Treasure

4/30/2022

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One of Quality Parks citizen scientist volunteers reviewed the Browns River Tidal Wetlands Area which is listed as a park in the Town of Islip.  We review the reviews and update our Long Parks knowledge base with their observations. During our review, we realized that this "park," actually borders a more extensive tidal wetland and that there are no interpretive signs to educate the public of its value, and the failure of government to protect this treasured wetland. Read more from the Suffolk County news article below:
"On the day of Christmas Eve, 2021, I sat quietly in the forested wetland located at the mouth of the Brown’s River in Sayville NY.  For a chilly winter’s day, there was a remarkable amount of activity.  I observed chickadees, Carolina wrens, juncos, cardinals, and blue jays flittering about, searching for seed heads from last year’s plant growth, or an insect hidden beneath the leaf litter.  As I sat, the primal call of a great blue heron rang out across the forest, and gulls squawked noisily in the distance.  A few moments later, a cooper’s hawk flew silently amongst the trees, gracefully dodging the tree trunks while searching for a meal.  A recent dusting of snow added to the beauty and the sense of place was palpable. Unfortunately, this beautiful and wild corner of the Great South Bay ecosystem is slated for destruction. " - Another environmental treasure taken from the South Shore of Long Island due to the failure of local and state environmental policy.
Quality Parks role in posting this news, is to keep you informed about ongoing environmental concerns on Long Island.
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Flanders County Park is a beautifully biodiverse area within the pine barrens.

4/1/2022

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Fun to explore and hike, but pubic access isn't easy.
Flanders County Park isn't an official name, but it best describes an area between the David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens  Preserve and Maple Swamp County Park.  Just south of the Flanders Firehouse, was protected as a critical resource area.  Though it has several possible access points, none are appealing.  What follows below is a quick review of the reasons why, and a call for action.

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What Happened to the Pine Barrens Trails Center Sign?

3/29/2022

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 . . . and to public information and access to parking and trails in northern Manorville?
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Do More To Stop Tick Bites on Long Island

3/12/2022

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recently updated: 04 /27/2022
Quality Parks is doing more to stop tick bites by revealing who is doing what where, from existing park conditions to  park resources taking action.
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The Stories They Tell Us - At the PJ Farmers Market

A young man reached down for his golf ball in the rough and ticks swarmed up his arm. He ran home and jumped in his swimming pool.  These were lone star tick nymphs, during late summer.  Irrigated golf courses add more moisture to the grounds.  Tick populations thrive in moister conditions. 

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Proposed Mather Hospital Parking Lot Expansion Impacts Memorial Nature Trail

2/24/2022

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On a recent snowy day, I discovered The Peter Hildebrand Memorial Nature Trail.  Beautifully quiet and still, it's also threatened by bulldozing and tree cutting. 

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The Bluff: What's to Become of LI North Shore Beaches

1/20/2022

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Frankly, I should've run away from another Port Jefferson controversy, but beaches are important to Long Islanders. . . . Yesterday, Defend H2O broadcasted an email  in response to an article about the Bluff,  and several weeks prior, one of Quality Parks volunteers  reviewed the Village of Port Jefferson as a park resource.

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To Save an Ant, "Because That's What Heroes Do"

12/28/2021

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This isn't exclusively a story about Marvel's Ant Man, nor of E.O. Wilson's studies of ants and the web of life. It's also a story about someone I knew way back, when I planted wild lupines in Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest, and he "planted" ant colonies.   I think he was a dentist. 

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    Newsletter
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    Quality Parks June 2022 Newsletter
    File Size: 1699 kb
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    Events
    We attend the Sunday weekly Port Jefferson Farmers Market.  And other locations. We run monthly Board Meetings. Contact us for more information.

    Categories

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    Belmont Lake State Park News
    Brookhaven State Park News
    Browns River Tidal Wetands Area
    CEED
    CLIMB News
    Coastal Erosion
    David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens Preserve
    Eastport - Pine Barrens State Forest News
    Flanders County Park
    Friends Of Long Pond Greenbelt News
    Harborfront Park News
    Janet Hann
    LIGTC
    Maple Swamp County Park
    Marine Debris
    Mather Hospital - Northwell Health
    Native Plants
    North Fork
    North Fork Deer Alliance
    NYSDEC News
    Open Space Preservation
    Paumanok Path
    Peconic River County Park - Robert Cushman Murphy County Park
    Phil Benvin
    Pine Barrens Trail Center
    Pollinator Garden News
    Poxabogue County Park News
    Public Access
    Quality Parks
    Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest News
    The Peter Hildebrand Memorial Nature Trail
    Tick Bite Prevention
    USFWS
    Village Of Port Jefferson News
    Vineyard Field
    Wildlife Of Long Island News

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Board Members

Mindy Block, President & Founder
Annelies Kamran
Caran Markson
Dana Frances Hilbert
Fred Edel, Co-Chair
​Jenn Lucas
Phil Benvin
Quality Parks is a professional organization sponsoring projects to improve both business and environmental conditions by balancing social, economic and environmental concerns. We disseminate information, develop and provide experiential learning opportunities, and support efforts designed to stimulate, encourage, educate, and involve the general public in natural resource stewardship practice​s. ​We are a  federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, since 2000, based in Port Jefferson, on  Long Island, New York
​

Policy Statement
A Tribute To Raymond P. Corwin
A Tribute To Larry Paul
Copyright © 2022, Quality Parks. All rights reserved. - 631-473-6760
Website  by Robbin Block, Blockbeta Marketing​