Efforts Underway to Preserve Long Island Motor Parkway

Earlier this month county executive Ed Mangano announced a "vision plan" establishing the Motor Parkway Trail, which he says will link several communities together through hiking and biking routes and will trace the original route of the famed Long Island Motor Parkway (also known as the Vanderbilt Parkway).

Mangano said the trail would also help promote his Fit Nassau initiative aimed at making Nassau the "healthiest county in the nation" through the promotion of daily exercise.

“This cooperation between community leaders, county representatives and New York State has resulted in the preservation of one of Long Island’s most storied pieces of history,” said Mangano. “Over many years they worked together to establish this trail to the benefit of all Long Islanders.”

The parkway, which Garden City village trustee Andrew Cavanaugh said had an "architectural and even cultural" presence in Garden City, was built by William K. Vanderbilt. Construction began in 1908 and was completed in 1926 when the parkway reached Ronkonkoma. It was the first roadway for automobile use only, and the setting for the famed Vanderbilt Cup races.

"There's an opportunity here for us to get out ahead of the county or work with the county," Cavanaugh said. He, along with trustees Nick Episcopia and John Watras, walked the property last year.

"We were absolutely amazed as to what was there," Watras said. "At some point in the future I would guess we would want to restore it or have something similar to the bird sanctuary."

Episcopia added, "It's an extremely interesting piece of property but what we could not figure out was where the Garden City line ended and where the county portion started. I think it might be an interesting idea if somehow we could find that out during this process...There's a pond in there. There's all sorts of things in there you'd never dreamed would be there."

Cavanaugh suggested the mayor appoint a committee to inquire what kind of recognition could be made. "I know there are citizens very knowledgeable of this," he said, referring to history buffs Cyril Smith and Bill Bellmer. Mayor Don Brudie immediately appointed trustees Brian Daughney (chair), Dennis Donnelly and Laurence Quinn to such a committee.

Early on, access was only provided at a small number of toll booths like the one originally located at Clinton Road at Vanderbilt Court in Garden City. That toll booth was moved from its original location to 230 Seventh Street in 1989 and has served as chamber headquarters for 20+ years.

Althea Robinson, the chamber's longtime executive director, offered the organization's assistance to the newly formed committee. "We have in the conference room in the toll lodge a mini photographic museum which really verfiies and states the whole history of the parkway, the significance of the 12 toll lodges that were there and access to the parkway," she said. "The Garden City toll lodge is the last vestage of the parkway that was authentically restored...John Kordes, our village historian, did do a wonderful video on it so we do have that available for anyone who wants to see it."

According to Mangano, $450,000 in Environmental Bond Act (EBA) monies will fund the project - the formulation of the vision plan, design plans for the demonstration piece and construction of the demonstration piece. An additional $500,000 in EBA funds is "under consideration" for construction, Mangano said.

Smith, who lives on Fourth Street, was at the June 16 board meeting. He applauded trustees for moving on the issue. "As you know it started with some walking tours a number of years ago. Some of the staff here, some of the trustees and some members of the audience have had the opportunity to take these tours. I offer them again because I feel this resource, if it can be properly reviewed by this committee, would gain by having additional suggestions on what can be done with it," he said. "I feel that the people who have walked it have seen the opportunities that this asset, currently a wasting one, can be improved on ... There are opportunities here gentlemen that I think the village can shine."

County officials said the first phase of the project will be a section of the trail between Carman Avenue and Stewart Avenue and will span about 1.25 miles.

“Progress very often erases parts of history,” said Mangano. “Projects like this one can ensure that history is not forgotten however, and establishing this trail will keep a part of Long Island’s history alive for many more generations.”