Nissequogue River State Park Draft Master Plan is available for viewing. The public is once again being called on to participate in its presentation December 13th.
A public meeting on the Draft Master Plan and DEIS will be hosted online Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be recorded and made publicly available. During the meeting, a presentation will be made about the Plan and DEIS and presenters will be available to receive verbal comments after the presentation. Free registration in advance of the online meeting will be required in order to attend. To register, please fill out the registration with this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrc-Guqj8vH9Hf_nvXa8vUD3aW2IERh-Dm
Link to Master Plan:https://parks.ny.gov/documents/inside-our-agency/Masterplans/NSRP/NSRPDraftMasterPlan.pdf
On February 3, 2021, OPRHP hosted a virtual Public Information Meeting. Attendees viewed a presentation on site resources; were provided an overview of the planning process; and encouraged to share with OPRHP staff the issues, impacts, and alternatives they would like explored in the Master Plan.
A month-long public comment period followed the event, and a recreational needs assessment was conducted between February 3 - 17, 2021. More than 1,600 respondents, 76% of whom live within 10 miles of the park, participated in the assessment. Four virtual focus group meetings were hosted throughout March and April 2021 which enabled the public to participate in targeted discussions on ecology, active recreation, historic preservation, and programming at the site.
An additional public information session was hosted outside at NRSP on October 27, 2021.
This meeting, while not the final step in the process, is the culmination of two years of outreach to the public, listening to concerns and incorporating ideas. ”Guiding principals were set at the outset of the process to ensure the development of the master plan meets the needs of the local community and aligns with the overarching mission of OPRHP “to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources.” (pg.7, Draft Master Plan for Nissequogue River State Park)