News

State land will be known as Hallock State Park Preserve

A large swath of state parkland that stretches from Northville to Mattituck along Long Island Sound will now be known as the Hallock State Park Preserve.
The new name is a departure from the previously proposed Jamesport State Park and Preserve name. Residents had been calling for a name change since the land is not in Jamesport hamlet.
The land had in the past been used for farming, a summer camp and also a sand-mining operation. The park is adjacent to the Hallockville Museum Farm and portions of the property were once owned by the Hallock farm family.
The park’s master plan, which residents had the chance to comment on during a public hearing in April, was adopted last week, said a state Office of Parks and Recreation spokesman.
The plan calls for designating the parcel a National Heritage Area and Park Preserve, as well as building a main road, a parking lot and eventual construction of a shore access road, park office and nature center.
While work is expected to start next year with the construction of the main road and parking lot, the entire master plan is expected to take 10 to 15 years to fully implement, officials said.
The land, which was once part of a larger parcel of state land that was sold off to farmers — with the proceeds dedicated to building the park on the remaining state land — is undeveloped. There are no roads leading to the property.
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