Letters

As secretary of the North Haven Parks and Trails Association, I’d like to compare our plan for Lovelady Park to that of two nearby Department of Environmental Conservation-regulated nature preserves: North Haven’s Stockfarm Preserve and The Nature Conservancy’s Mashomack Preserve.

Leon Esker and I have been the stewards of the Stockfarm Preserve for over 15 years. A 74-acre DEC jurisdictional property, we have maintained the preserve in accordance with DEC guidelines.

The DEC allowed two substantial bridges to be placed over its tidal waters. There are substantial tidal swings in Stockfarm’s Genet Creek, where perfect ecosystems exist throughout the designated trail and bridge loops of these wetlands.

But most North Haven residents do not venture out to the Stockfarm Trails, because they fear ticks.

The philosophy behind developing the Lovelady property is to make it a safe, accessible public park to be enjoyed by all visitors. We aspire to have a small network of natural stone walking paths. We plan to have the path in the park’s south end connect to a north path via an innocuous footbridge. Thus, park-goers can confidently complete their strolls along the beautiful pond and green spaces within our park.

Mashomack also has footbridges crossing its waters; hikers can observe stunning water birds just as they can on the Stockfarm bridges, where North Haven residents fear to tread.

Contrasting the diligent maintenance of the Mashomack and Stockfarm wetlands, the existing ponds on the Lovelady property have become choked by invasive species. Multigenerational residents recall the benefits of once enjoying these ponds. Newer North Haven residents are amazed that the north end pond even exists. Now, they have a chance to walk this pond (man made, by the way) and embrace the environment. Whatever we clear, we responsibly revegetate. We also plan to have the culvert under Ferry Road repaired, thereby improving the waterflow and quality to the benefit of wildlife in the park.

We endeavor to have a pollinator garden as a point of interest in our community. The garden will serve not only as an enchanting gathering place but also as an educational tool for visitors to learn about the essential thirst for biodiversity and the appeal of striking, low-maintenance ecosystems.

We have an opportunity to make something special of this 9.7-acre property. It is lovely now, but it could be better. It could be safer and greener, and full of flowers and native plantings, and butterflies and bees. The seeds can be sowed now for our children to cultivate in the future.

Please attend or Zoom the public hearing at North Haven Village Hall on August 24 at 6 p.m. This park is for you, and we value your input.

Camille Petrillo

North Haven