Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Christopher McBride, head of the South Shore Eco Rotary and a longtime advocate for the Brookside Preserve, has highlighted ongoing challenges at the nature preserve following a recent cleanup and inspection by the Eco Rotary.
The inspection, which took place during the final cleanup of 2024, revealed that while the preserve’s trails were “fairly free of litter,” hard-to-reach debris remains an issue.
According to McBride, the accumulated trash is “still present throughout the thorns, bushes, and buried into the bank of Milburn Creek, having accumulated for years.”
In addition to litter concerns, McBride pointed to several hazards that remain unresolved despite being flagged earlier in the year. “Unfortunately, many existing dangers identified in the spring have not been remedied,” he said, citing “broken wooden trails, an open concrete pit, and evidence of criminal debauchery and broken fences” as areas of particular concern.
McBride also noted that the gate on Brookside Avenue has been locked around the clock, contrary, he says, to a sign that states “open until sundown.”
The management of the Brookside Preserve is undergoing a transition. McBride explained that county legislators have informed him that a new organization will take over stewardship of the preserve in 2025 under the direction of the county commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Museums.
Despite the current challenges, McBride and the ERNCLI.org group remain committed to environmental restoration projects in Nassau County. Looking ahead to the spring, McBride said ERNCLI will continue to recruit community members for upcoming initiatives through their new venture, the South Shore Eco Rotary.
McBride is working to establish the South Shore NC Eco Rotary as Nassau County’s first Rotary environmental club, and aims to take on projects across the region, including cleanups, education initiatives, and community engagement events.
For those interested in learning more about the club, or joining the future Eco Rotary Club of Nassau County, Long Island visit ERNCLI.org. or reach out via email at ecorotaryncli@gmail.com.
