Letters

On Sunday, February 20, I was the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society hike leader at the town-owned Brooks-Park property in Springs. I’m also a member of the Brooks-Park Arts and Nature Center Committee, dedicated to restoring and re-imagining the house and studios.

The hike leader’s role includes signing in the participants — but Sunday morning wasn’t easy. The cars kept coming, endlessly, and Neck Path and Eastside Court were running out of parking spots and teeming with people.

Scrambling, I had to enlist assistance from a few friends to garner all the signatures. It instantly became apparent that something special and far-reaching was happening.

I led a hike in Sag Harbor last fall with 35 people, a sizable turnout. This was four times that or more — on a frigid Sunday morning that, while sunny, had wind chills in the single digits and low teens.

Leading what can only be described as a parade from Neck Path onto the Brooks-Park property felt surreal. I brought everyone on site to what was clearly an event far greater in scope than a hike in the woods.

After a few opening remarks, I introduced our first speaker. The audience listened in rapt attention to riveting presentations by Marietta Gavaris, Scott Bluedorn, Janet Jennings and Rick Whalen. It was communing with nature during a history lesson, hearing of a future filled with optimism and possibilities.

It’s difficult to describe the energy we all felt; “palpable” just doesn’t do it justice. People signed petitions, viewed Scott’s artist renderings, asked questions, and left email addresses to be apprised of next steps. We proceeded to explore the land and walk the trails, connecting with the property and with each other. All on 11 pristine acres in our densely populated hamlet of Springs, home to de Kooning, Pollock, Krasner, Little, Nivola and, yes, James Brooks and Charlotte Park.

The Brooks-Park house and studios go beyond mere buildings. They are our history, our heritage, an essential part of what defines our beloved Springs. If this mission resonates with you, help us. Please call or email Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc and East Hampton Town Board members Sylvia Overby, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, David Lys and Cate Rogers. Tell them you support restoration, not demolition.

And join with us in imagining a Brooks-Park Arts and Nature Center for family, for community, for the future.

Irwin T. Levy

Springs