The following statements can be found on the Suffolk County Parks website at http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp3.cfm?dept=10&id=2717 They were made at the August 17th Trustee's meeting.

Commissioner Foley: A few months ago we talked about constructing a dog run in the field adjacent to the parking area on the western most section of West Hills. That fence is being constructed as we speak. We consulted with the Huntington Dog Owners Association about amenities they would like to see there. It's well thought out, however, those things probably won't be installed until later on in the fall.

Trustee McKay: Does that move the people out of Coindre Hall?

Commissioner Foley: No, it does not. We are changing the way we tend to Coindre Hall by asking the tenant who lives there to leave and replacing them with an employee who can better deal directly with inappropriate use of property. Those people were there under an old agreement with Friends, paying very low rent in exchange for some duties. We were not satisfied. The dog owners think they have a proprietary right to do whatever they want. We have got to straighten that out. It's not going to be easy, there will be an uproar, but now we have an alternative facility that is acceptable to them, and we're talking about another one at Blydenburgh which there is legislative authority for. We're not ignoring the need for these things, but they need to be in places that are appropriate and Coindre Hall is just too small a property, too busy with other things, and it's an important historic asset in the county.

As always, keep in touch by e-mailing us at lidog_news@yahoo.com.