Krupski Helps to Complete County Purchase of North Fork Preserve

Just days after being sworn in to office on the Suffolk County Legislature, Al Krupski partnered with County Executive Steve Bellone to co-sponsor legislation to complete the purchase of the 314-acre North Fork Preserve property in Riverhead — a process that has been on the books since 2009.

A vote on the measure is expected at the Legislature’s Feb. 5 meeting in Hauppauge.

“The North Fork Preserve property is a critical open space acquisition for Riverhead, the North Fork and all of Suffolk County,” said Krupski, who had been an open-space advocate for decades in Southold Town, on his first action with the Legislature. “The North Fork Preserve has been called Suffolk’s last great park, and I agree with that description. The park, with fishing, hiking, camping and more, will be a highlight of the entire Suffolk County park system.”

The final step is now before the Legislature with Krupski’s resolution to buy three remaining parcels totally three acres along Sound Avenue that will be purchased for $702,000. Three existing structures on the parcels will be used by the Suffolk County Parks Department for a caretaker residence and check-in station, a barn for parks maintenance equipment and a garage for park maintenance equipment and a with a small office area for parks personnel.

Legis. Krupski has been named a member of the Environment, Planning and Agriculture committees and said he is anxious to get to work on saving open space and farmland in his district. He is also a member of the Human Services, Budget and Finance and Public Works and Transportation committees.

“The North Fork probably contains more of the most valuable pieces of open space and farmland than any other legislative district, although Jay Schneiderman might argue that point,” Krupski said. “The county legislature has been in the forefront of open space preservation and protecting valuable farmland for decades and I am sure my colleagues and I will continue to add to that remarkable record.”