Photo 1: Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé walks across a broken, collapsing wooden pathway inside Brookside Preserve in Freeport, highlighting dangerous conditions caused by years of neglect. Photo 2: L-R Jose Cuevas, Vice President of Government and Community Engagement for the South Shore Conservation Society, Erica DeVargas, President of the South Shore Conservation Society, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé, Nassau County Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton.
FREEPORT, NY (March 30, 2026) — Standing inside a nearly 20-acre public preserve now riddled with trash, collapsing walkways, and other safety hazards, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé on Monday blasted County officials for allowing Brookside Preserve to deteriorate for years, despite repeated offers from local volunteers to restore it at no cost.
“This isn’t neglect you read about, this is neglect you can see, smell, and trip over,” Mulé said. “This should be a place where families walk, kids explore nature, and neighbors gather. Instead, it’s been left to decay.”
Brookside Preserve, one of the few remaining natural green spaces in the area, was once maintained in partnership with environmental groups. But when the Audubon Society could no longer continue its stewardship, the responsibility didn’t disappear, it shifted. And the community stepped in. Local residents formed the South Shore Conservation Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the preserve. What began as small, grassroots cleanups grew into a coordinated effort: monthly volunteer days, community organizing, and a long-term vision for restoring the space into a safe, welcoming environment.
“As president of the South Shore Conservation Society, I’m proud of the work we’ve already begun,” said Erica DeVargas. “Over the past several seasons, we’ve hosted monthly cleanups, bringing together volunteers of all ages. Every bag of trash removed, every path cleared, every hour volunteered is a step toward revitalization.”
But the group quickly realized there was only so much they could do without formal cooperation.
They developed a plan. They approached Nassau County. And they made a simple offer: let us take care of Brookside Preserve — for free.
“They didn’t just talk about the problem, they showed up to fix it,” Mulé said.
According to advocates, they followed every step required, submitting proposals, engaging with officials, and repeatedly following up.
“They submitted proposals. They waited. They followed up again and again,” Mulé said. “And what did they get in return? Silence. Days became weeks, weeks became months and now we’re talking about years.”
During that time, conditions at the preserve have worsened dramatically.
What was once a natural retreat has become increasingly hazardous, with piles of trash, graffiti, discarded bottles and needles, polluted water conditions, and wooden walkways now rotting, collapsing, and filled with dangerous gaps.
“While the County continues to stall, this place got worse,” Mulé said. “This isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a public safety hazard.”
Jose Cuevas, Vice President of Government and Community Engagement for the South Shore Conservation Society, said volunteers have refused to walk away, even as their efforts are limited by County inaction.
“We’ve been out here month after month doing what we can, cleaning, clearing, trying to protect this space,” Cuevas said. “We’re not asking for funding. We’re asking for the opportunity to do more. Instead, we’ve been ignored while conditions keep getting worse.”
DeVargas emphasized that the fight to restore Brookside is about more than just cleanup, it’s about reclaiming a vital community asset.
“Brookside Preserve has incredible potential,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to create something safe, welcoming, and beautiful for everyone who calls this community home, a place where families can walk, where neighbors can gather, and where people can reconnect with nature.”
She added that the benefits go beyond aesthetics.
“Well-maintained green spaces improve mental health, reduce stress, and bring people together,” DeVargas said. “They strengthen communities. And that’s exactly what this space could be again.”
Mulé said the situation represents a deeper failure of basic governance.
“Let’s be clear about what’s happening here: people are begging to take responsibility for public land, offering to do the work for free, and the government won’t even respond,” she said.
She called on Nassau County to immediately engage with the South Shore Conservation Society and allow volunteers to move forward with restoration efforts.
“This place doesn’t have to stay like this,” Mulé said. “The solution is standing right here. All it takes is leadership and a willingness to say yes.”
Until then, advocates warned, Brookside Preserve will remain a stark example of what happens when government inaction meets community effort and effort is ignored.
“For us, this mission is deeply personal,” DeVargas said. “This is about stewardship. This is about community. And this is about creating something lasting and meaningful together.”