The Town of Huntington takes part in an Earth Day kick-off at the Edgewood Preserve.

The Town of Huntington, in collaboration with the Town of Babylon, Senator Owen Johnson, Legislator Steve Stern, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Friends of Edgewood Preserve kicked-off Earth Day with the revitalization of the Edgewood Preserve, located off Commack Road, on the Huntington-Babylon Town border. During a two day clean up, volunteers came out to help remove debris from the site and the Townships and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation repaved biking and hiking trails as well as removed abandoned vehicles from the site.

"More than a hundred local residents enjoy the Edgewood Preserve each day," said Town of Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone. "The Town of Huntington is thrilled to be helping these volunteers kick-start their Earth Day clean-up of this important natural resource."

The Edgewood Preserve is located in Deer Park and Dix Hills and consists of excess land once part of the Edgewood State Hospital and the Pilgrim Hospital. Edgewood Preserve is a New York State asset and is owned by the New York State DEC. Much of this land is in its natural state, with the exception of the former lawns, old building sites, and old Commack Road, the original concrete road that runs north-south through the Preserve which is now a designated biking and walking/hiking route.

"When I introduced the legislation in 1988 to create the Edgewood Preserve, I had envisioned a peaceful and tranquil oasis where local residents could hike, bike, and enjoy nature. I can't think of a better way of celebrating Earth Day and demonstrating our concern for our local environment than by volunteering to help cleanup the Edgewood Preserve," stated Senator Owen Johnson.

"There is no more fitting way to celebrate Earth Day than by reaffirming our commitment to be conscientious stewards our precious natural resources," said Peter A. Scully, Regional Director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. "Teamwork and cooperation between interested citizens and State and local governments is the most effective way to protect this sensitive groundwater protection area for future generations." "This is a great example of several levels of government coming together to preserve what we all realize is an environmental jewel and one of the last remaining areas of open space in our region," stated Legislator Steve Stern.