Nassau County, NY - September 20th, 2014 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano today participated in a region-wide volunteer cleanup to support parks and coastal areas on Long Island. Corresponding with the 21st Annual Oyster Bay Harbor Fall Cleanup Day, which the Governor, County Executive and Billy Joel took part in, volunteers from across the region helped beautify 17 outdoor town, county and state locations as part of an expanded community service effort.
“We truly are borrowers of this earth, and it is our responsibility to protect and improve it for the next generation,” Governor Cuomo said. “The people that came out today to help clean up places like Oyster Bay and Glen Cove and the region’s State Parks represent the spirit of New York. I thank them for coming together – and encourage all New Yorkers to join in and volunteer at their local park so we can leave this state better than we found it.”
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said, “From protecting our bays and beaches, to marine life and waterways, these environmental cleanup efforts along our shorelines are critical for our way of life in Nassau County. I thank Governor Cuomo, our residents and local organizations that annually commit themselves to leaving our community better than they found it.”
The annual Oyster Bay Harbor Cleanup is organized by the Town of Oyster Bay, the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association and Friends of the Bay. During the cleanup, volunteers join town employees and local residents to pick up trash and debris along the shoreline as well as out in the bay in order to preserve the harbor ecology.
The harbor in Oyster Bay is an integral part of Long Island’s vibrant fishing economy. There are nearly 3,000 underwater shellfish lands in the area, and approximately 2,000 of those are open for harvesting and direct marketing of shellfish throughout the year.
Congressman Steve Israel said, “It was a true honor to be part of a community effort to ensure that we are preserving the natural beauty that we enjoy on Long Island. I thank the Governor and everyone else who came out and demonstrated how important it is for us to ensure our natural treasures remain clean.”
Senator Carl L. Marcellino said, “Oyster Bay Harbor is one of our community's greatest treasures, and the cleanup effort taking place today is a great way to protect the harbor for future generations. I want to thank all of the volunteers who donated their time and effort to better our community – their service is an inspiration to us all.”
Assemblyman Michael Montesano said, “Cleaning up places like the Oyster Bay Harbor is a great way to give back to the community and support our local ecosystems. I'm proud to be joining in this effort and I thank all of the volunteers who came out to make this a success.”
Assemblyman Charles D. Lavine said, “New York's parks are a magnificent resource and the annual community clean up is a perfect way to help preserve their beauty. I thank Governor Cuomo and County Executive Mangano for ensuring that Oyster Bay will be enjoyed by New Yorkers and visitors alike for years to come.”
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto said, “Cleaning up the harbor is an annual tradition that brings out the true community spirit of our local residents – and I am very appreciative of the support we receive from all of our volunteers. Governor Cuomo is absolutely right that we all have a responsibility to preserve and protect our natural environment, and events like today are an important step in that direction. It means a cleaner setting for everyone to enjoy, and I look forward to seeing Oyster Bay Harbor Cleanup continue growing as an annual tradition.”
Commissioner Harvey said, “I’m truly grateful for the strong show of support for Long Island’s beautiful shoreline from so many volunteers today. I particularly want to thank Governor Cuomo for leading by example. Both on the ground, getting his hands dirty at events like the Coastal Cleanup and I Love My Park Day, and at the State Capitol, providing the support to keep all of our parks open and launching an unprecedented revitalization effort, the Governor has just been a tremendous ally of public parks and open space.”
Friends of the Bay Executive Director Paul D'Orsay said, “Protecting the harbor around Oyster Bay is a team effort, and today's cleanup shows that we have some of the most dedicated and selfless volunteers around. I am thrilled to have such a great turnout for our 21st annual cleanup, and I want to thank everyone who made today's event successful. This kind of volunteerism is what keeps Oyster Bay the vibrant community it has grown to be, and I look forward to another great year.”
In addition to Oyster Bay, volunteers came together at a number of outdoor locations on Long Island as part of today’s effort. The full list of parks and coastal areas that hosted volunteers as part of today’s initiative is as follows:
- Oyster Bay Harbor
- Nickerson Beach
- Glen Cove
- Belmont Lake State Park
- Camp Hero State Park
- Caumsett State Park
- Heckscher State Park
- Hempstead Lake State Park
- Hither Hills State Park
- Jones Beach State Park
- Orient Beach State Park
- Montauk Point State Park
- Napeague State Park
- Nissequogoue State Park
- Robert Moses State Park
- Sunken Meadow State Park
- Wildwood State Park
Photo by Geo Cristian, via Free Images.