Count Executive Suozzi & Supervisor Kaiman Kick-Off Earth Day               

Sweeping trucks give County & Town roads a Spring cleaning     

Manhasset, NY- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi & North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman used the 34^th Annual Earth Day celebration to announce a spring clean-up and beautification effort on roads throughout the respective municipalities.  Standing near the intersection of Community Drive and Northern Boulevard in Manhasset Valley Park, Suozzi and Kaiman announced a list of environmental priorities, beginning with a coordinated clean-up of this heavily traveled intersection.     

"Tens of thousands of cars pass through this intersection everyday, yet no one knows how beautiful Whitney Pond Park is because it is completely covered by dead trees, vines and garbage," said Suozzi.  "The Town of North Hempstead has already done an incredible job this month to spruce up its open space and I am instructing our Parks and Public Works Department to follow their lead.  Today we are showing how much progress can be made when local governments work together," Suozzi said.

"Maintaining our parks and cleaning our streets are not only about preserving our quality of life but it is also about protecting our environment," said Supervisor Kaiman.  "We intend to work together to make our Town and County safe, clean, and green."

County Executive Suozzi also announced the appointment of Thomas F. Maher as Director of Environmental Coordination (see attached news release) to oversee the different environmental functions that other County departments, as well as what State, Village and City governments already provide.

In addition, the County is forging partnerships with private companies to ‘adopt' nearby roads, starting with the County's largest hospital network.    "As Nassau County's largest employer, the North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System is committed to working with the County and other local governments to spruce up our intersections and improve the aesthetics of our communities," said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of North Shore-LIJ, which has already beautified an intersection at the corner of  Community Drive and Northern Boulevard in Manhasset.    The County will also work closer with LIPA, Urban Forestry and other non-profit groups to coordinate where plantings are needed most.  

Nassau resident will see plenty of new improvements this summer at beaches and parks facilities.  New plantings are being installed at Whitney Pond Park, Nickerson Beach, Baxter Pond and along Old Country Road at Eisenhower Park.  A total of 100 trees will be planted this year in conjunction with local community groups, who have pledged to provide upkeep.

"Our 6,000 acres of parks, museums and open space have been under funded and neglected for too long.  But with community involvement, public-private partnerships and better use of government resources, we can continue to keep Nassau County as one of the most regions in the nation.  Let's use Earth Day to kick-start a cleaner and prettier future for Nassau County," said County Executive Suozzi.

To find out how you can help keep you local park clean send an e-mail to:

NCPARKS@ mail.co.nassau.ny.us or call (516) 572-0218.