To Mark Earth Day, Suozzi Announces Nassau’s Purchase of One of Last Remaining Farms in County

-- County Buys Development Rights of Meyers’ Farm in Woodbury, One of Five Functioning Farms Left in Nassau

Mineola, N.Y. – As part of his on-going campaign to save Nassau County’s remaining parcels of open space, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has acquired the development rights to the Meyers’ Farm in Woodbury

This arrangement protects the land from being developed, while allowing the Meyer family to continue farming the eight-acre plot, one of just five remaining functioning farms in Nassau County. The County purchased the development rights for $4,270,000, as part of the 2004 $50 million Environmental Program Bond Act. This is the first functioning farm the County has acquired.

“As part of my Healthy Nassau initiative, I am committed to preserving natural open spaces, which are crucial to preserving our quality of life,” Suozzi said. “And I am delighted that the Meyer family can now continue to farm this parcel of green, fertile land, right in the heart of our county.”

The county’s first ever Environmental Bond Act was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004, and allocated $50 million for the purchase of 118 acres of open space, improvement of 20 parks, construction of 17 storm water controls to improve water quality and remediation of two brownfield properties.

On the heels of that success, voters in 2006 approved a second Bond Act, providing an additional $100 million for more vital environmental projects. The County earlier this year accepted nominations for projects to be funded by the second bond act, and plans to acquire and preserve additional open space, including more farmland.

Meyers Farm, which sits at the intersection of Piquets Lane and Woodbury Road, was originally a 20-acre parcel when the Meyers family acquired it over in 1920, and when much of the County was still undeveloped. Today, the farm still produces vegetables sold at the family’s farm stand.