Cedar Creek Swamp

August 3, 2009 Update: Thanks to the efforts of the office of Legislator David Denenberg, Nassau County finally cut the swamp grass. There is still the water drainage issue left, but we thank David Denenberg for being a people's person, for taking this matter seriously, and for simply getting it done. We at Cedar Creek Swamp wish every government office was as helpful and understanding as the office of Legislator David Denenberg which you can find on the web at this link. We will post updated pictures soon.

June, 2009 status:

Thanks to lack of maintenance, or purposeful ignorance by Cedar Creek Park administration in Seaford, NY 11783, and by Parks Dept. of Nassau County, there is a growing swamp which spreads over hundreds of feet along the park's fence. It starts at the corner of Byron St. and Beech St (closer to Larch St.), and stretches over hundreds of feet along the fence between Beech St. and Larch St.

The swamp features typical thick swamp grass reaching the height of 10 ft, standing water which stays there for days after it rains, and what is more important creates ideal breading conditions for mosquitoes and other insects. Mosquitoes bite birds, raccoons, and other small animals which are plentiful around, and then bite humans - local residents and park visitors - potentially spreading deadly diseases such as West Nile Virus.

Despite a number of requests to Cedar Creek Park's administration and to Nassau County Parks Dept., absolutely nothing is being done to get rid of the swamp since the summer of 2008 - asking them is almost pointless as there will be many reasons given why it's not done or why it shouldn't be done - like another department needs to take care of it, or that the tests showed no mosquitoes are breeding there, and what not - except a simple act of getting it done. If that was their own property, you can bet there would be no tall grass, no standing water and no swamp - just another small example of the bureaucratic indifference to public interests. And how hard would it be to cut the grass and improve water drainage in that area?

It is interesting to point out that Nassau County officials warn local residents against standing water on their property so that such conditions do not create breading grounds for mosquitoes and other insects (click on this news release regarding mosquitoes and West Nile Virus). Nassau County officials warn that the residents may be fined if standing water is found on their property. However, when it comes to the county's property, these rules do not seem to apply. How about issuing a fine to Cedar Creek Park administration?

Here are a few photos which speak for themselves. It seems almost innocent from a distance (first photo), but as you get closer you realize that it looks like a swamp, it smells like a swamp, and it is a swamp.

The park maintenance workers cut the grass regularly in otherwise well maintained park, however the grass in the swamp is being ignored as seen in the photo below. If you look carefully, you can see the tracks of the mowing tractor going around the tall grass.

Just few feet away, a similar area along the Byron St. fence, shows neatly cut grass. There is no standing water as well as seen in the photo below. Why everything is done right along one fence, while nothing is done at all along the adjacent fence? This is a good question for the the park's management.

Exact area covered by Cedar Creek Swamp is shown in red on the map below.

What can you do? Well, not much, really. Keep complaining to the Park's administration whose building seems to be well maintained with neatly shaped bushes, grass and trees as seen in the photo below.

You are also urged to contact various government officials, department of health, newspapers, local TV stations, and other media outlets, and ask again and again for their help in getting rid of the swamp.

Suggested text of the letter:

Dear Sir/Madam:

Due to lack of maintenance, or purposeful ignorance by Cedar Creek Park administration in Seaford, NY 11783, and by Parks Dept. of Nassau County, there is a growing swamp which spreads over hundreds of feet along the park's fence. It starts at the corner of Byron St. and Beech St (closer to Larch St.), and stretches over hundreds of feet along the fence between Beech St. and Larch St. Please see detailed photos and a map at the following web address:

www.CedarCreekSwamp.info

Despite a number of requests to Cedar Creek Park's administration and to Nassau County Parks Dept. since the summer of 2008, absolutely nothing is being done to get rid of the swamp - and how hard would it be to cut the grass and improve water drainage in that area?

It is interesting to point out that Nassau County officials warn local residents against standing water on their property so that such conditions do not create breading grounds for mosquitoes and other insects. Nassau County officials warn that the residents may be fined if standing water is found on their property. However, when it comes to the county's property, these rules do not seem to apply. How about issuing a fine to Cedar Creek Park administration?

Please help to resolve this problem and get rid of Cedar Creek Swamp!

Sincerely,

Contact information for various organizations

Cedar Creek Park:

Cedar Creek Park

Wantagh Avenue,

Seaford, NY 11783

Tel. 516-571-7470

Nassau Parks Commissioner Jose L. Lopez,

Eisenhower Park/Administrative Building

East Meadow, NY 11554

Tel. 516-572-0272

Nassau County Health Department:

Nassau County Health Department

106 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.

Uniondale, NY 11553

Tel. (516) 227-9697

Email form: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/contact.html

Website: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html

Nassau County Department of Public Works:

Department of Public Works
1194 Prospect Avenue

Westbury, NY 11590-2723

Tel. (516) 571-9600

For mosquito problems, stagnant water or a drainage problem, call at: (516) 572-1166, weekdays from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm.

Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi:

Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi

1550 Franklin Avenue

Mineola, NY 11501

Tel. (516) 571-3131

Website: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/CountyExecutive/email.html

Kate Murray, the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead

Hempstead Town Hall/ Attn. Kate Murray
One Washington Street
Hempstead, NY 11550

Kate Murray's Helpline: (516) 489-6000

Kate Murray's Helpline Form: http://www.townofhempstead.org/content/home/contact.html

Hempstead Town Hall:

Hempstead Town Hall
One Washington Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
Tel. (516) 489-5000

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.

District Office:
5550 Merrick Road
Suite 205
Massapequa, New York 11758-6238
516-882-0630
Fax: 516-882-0636

Albany Office:
Room 615 LOB
Albany, New York 12247
518-455-3341

E-mail address: fuschill@senate.state.ny.us, Website: http://www.senatorfuschillo.com

Nassau County Legislators: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/electcontact.html

Newsday newspaper and on the web:

Newsday
235 Pinelawn Road
Melville, NY 11747

Long Island newsroom: (631) 843-2700

Editorial board, e-mail editorials@newsday.com

Letters to the Editor, e-mail letters@newsday.com

Op-ed submissions, e-mail oped@newsday.com

Website: www.newsday.com

TV Station News 12:

News 12 Long Island
1 Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797

To report news: 1-800-316-TIPS

To request news coverage: Assignment Desk 516-393-1390, select 2

Website: www.news12.com
E-mail: news12li@news12.com

We, at Cedar Creek Swamp, welcome your comments which you can send to CedarCreekSwamp@ig-enter.info. Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to publish your comments, unchanged or with minor editing for style, grammar, and presentation.