L&M Publications
Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

On Friday, February 17, a newly formed organization – Friends of Tackapausha –  will host a rally to encourage the community to tell Nassau County officials to keep Tackapausha Museum and Preserve open.
   
“We want the county to tell us what is going on,” said Richard Schary, president of the Friends for the Massapequa Preserve, and a member of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, two organizations that are component members of Friends of Tackapausha.
   
“That’s why we invited them to attend this rally. We have questions: Why is this happening? What is the status of Tackapausha [Preserve] and the museum? What’s the budget look like?  This is the only [county-owned] facility that  is a museum and preserve on the South Shore, and it’s closed. We want it open and we want the county to know that we will work with them [to keep it open],” said Mr. Schary.
   
Katie Grilli-Robles, a spokesperson for the county, told this newspaper that “for the past year the museum has been hosting permitted events by request due to the renovations of the exhibits. Once the new discovery center and outdoor educational center is complete, the county will reopen the site in the spring during peak hours and for school groups, appointment, events, scouts and birthday parties. The building is not being closed.” There was no response to the question regarding the costs to run the museum.
   
The Friends of Tackapausha want to keep the museum out of the hands of private enterprise and in the hands of the county.    
   
Tackapausha Museum, on Washington Avenue in Seaford, is a county facility and is adjacent to the 84-acre preserve.
   
The 3,000-foot natural history museum for children has displays about the ecology of Long Island, animal exhibits and shows, and interactive activities for children. One of its most popular exhibits features live animals.
   
The preserve  is an 84-acre tract of glacial outwash plain that serves as a wildlife sanctuary, consisting of wet, deciduous woods, wetlands, streams and ponds, and a small well-drained grassy area reminiscent of the Hempstead Plains, as stated on the county’s website.
   
The preserve itself consists of three sections divided by major roads, with trails that meander through each part, including the largest Atlantic white cedar stand or grouping of trees in Nassau County, a small secluded pond that draws waterfowl and amphibians, and a small wetland.
   
Environmental bond money had been set aside to renovate the preserve. Although some work has been done, the pond still needs renovation, said Mr. Schary, asking: “What is the status of the restoration?”
   
But last month the county closed the museum and removed the director. That’s when the Friends decided to take action.
   
“We want to see the pond restored and the museum opened,” explained Mr. Schary. “The Friends of Tackapausha will assist the county with programming, but we want this to remain a county facility that is run, operated and maintained by Nassau County. No privatization.”  
   
He pointed to the longstanding relationship environmental and neighborhood groups have had with Tackapausha. “Volunteers have worked here for 30 years – Eagle projects, the Seaford Wellness Council, Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference and many other [local] groups have volunteered here. What happens to Tackapausha affects the quality of life for the community, including property owners and local businesses,” he stated.
   
Lisa Schary, also of the Friends of Massapequa Preserve and the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, added that “our tax dollars paid for the renovation of the preserve. When will we reap the benefits of this project? In all the years we have been fighting for open space, a museum has never been padlocked to the public. It really upsets me and everyone else. We are inviting the county to answer our questions and tell us what’s going on.”

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.

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