8/14/2019 December 5, 2007 - Parks Department Replies to Senator
Flanagan Regarding Open Space in Kings Park
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C.rrot AsnCommrrrioner
Nnr, Yonrr Sr^rsOrncs oF PAru{s, R-ucRptrroN ^}rD HtsToa.Ic
pnrsnnvrnoNEttor gpp12gGor:ernor
Honorable John J. FlanaganLegislarive Office Burldrn gRoom
817Albany, NY LZZ47Dear Senator Flanagan:Thank you for your letEr
of November 20 concerning a picce of vacant land betweenSunken
Meadow State Park and Nissequogue State Park, currcntly owned by
rhe Societyof St- Johnland. Staff at the Department of
Environrnental Conservation had made meawarc of your InqurryGiven
its )ocation and its natural state, the parcef is indeed one of
great interesr ro SrareParks Its protection would mesh well with
Commrssroner Ash's prionty of forglng andstrengthcning the nahrral
connectlons berwccn our parks. To date, howe-ver, State parkshas
taken no spccific steps to acquire the propeny. i.FAs you are
aware, a number of cntena need to be met for the state to consider
purchasingthe property. Above and beyond state budgel rssues and
questions of statewide agencyacquisition pnonties in any given
year, lherc is the threshold quesrion of whshrr,5,propcny is for
sarc or nor, since rt has rong been stare parks' iolicy ro work
excrusrverywith willing sellers. In addition, the price At whlsh
rhe property is offered for sale wouldhave to bc subsrantrated by
at least two independent "ppt^irars, subjcct ro rhe review ofboth
state Parks' staff and the office of the btar* co.,iiooir"r.
Finally, grven the cost ofland on Long Island'-state- Parks
frcguently looks for funding and acquisition panners inthe
not-for-profit and local government sccr,ors to help us leverage
lrmired stateresources' [n this case' Suffolk County andl/or the
Town of Smjt-htown could piuy .r,t,".troles as well as rhe Trusr
for Public Land which assisted on the acquisrtion of Jamesport
State Park Preserve in Rrverhead.All this bcing understood,
State Parks would be rnrerested in pursuing this
porenlralacqusition further, eithcr directly or lhrough the
assistan.. oi u prrtn-.r. ylur office
Dccember 5.200j
Emprre Srarc plara. Agcrrcy Burldrng I . AJba.ny, Nc.vyork
lpp3g5I8-47,i,0469 . Far: 5 I 9,4741365
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8/14/2019 December 5, 2007 - Parks Department Replies to Senator
Flanagan Regarding Open Space in Kings Park
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Hgnorab.le John J. FlanaganDecember 5,200-/Page 2
could help us by providrng background on the landowner and the
proposed developmentand suggesting shategies for making contact. If
you or a member of your staff wouldplease call me at 518-474-0430,
I would be happy ro drscuss rhis marter furlher_Thank you for
wntlng.Sincerely,,/ /,/ \ ./Z;J rt/ZlJ---l-Erik KulleseidDeputy
Comrnissioner for Open Space protecrion
cc:' Ron Foley, Long Island Regronal Direcror
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