Southampton Town Will Clean Up Park In Riverside

Illegal dumping in Riverside is pushing Southampton Town officials to take action and clean up a common dumping site.

Last week, town officials allocated approximately $3,000 from the town’s mitigation fund to clean up land at 129 Peconic Avenue that people have been using as a hangout. The town estimates it will cost $2,400 to clean the site—which is littered with garbage and human feces—and will make the park more visible from Route 24, making it easier for police officers to see if people are hiding in the area.

This week, Councilman Brad Bender explained that the park had not been an issue in the past but said that with recent efforts by Riverhead Town to clean up its Main Street and along the Peconic River, people have been crossing to the Southampton Town side of the river.

Mr. Bender said the property on Peconic Avenue appears to have been being used as a hangout space because it is partially concealed from the roads, meaning police would have to walk in the park to see people there. The park is littered with discarded beer cans and bottles, as well as food, Mr. Bender said, adding people would defecate in the area rather than finding a bathroom.

Part of the cleanup will also involve removing brush to make the park visible from Route 24 for easier enforcement.

“We are hoping to nip this in the bud and give the opportunity for our police to see into the area,” Mr. Bender said.

This week, Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said cleanup will begin immediately and should take only a few days to complete. The spending was authorized at a special Town Board meeting on Thursday.

The town mitigation fund was founded in January 2013 to maintain town-owned properties and to clean up illegal dumping.