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Friends of Long Pond Greenbelt urge Southampton to fund ranger, cameras and enforcement after years of ATV damage
Summary
Volunteers and conservation leaders told the town board that illegal ATVs, dirt bikes and bicycles are damaging sensitive vernal pools and trails in the Long Pond Greenbelt and urged the creation of a dedicated park ranger, camera deployment and coordination with bay constables and CPF rangers for enforcement.
Speakers representing the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt told the Southampton Town Board that repeated illegal use of motorbikes, quads and bicycles is causing “irreparable” damage to rare coastal‑plain ponds, vernal pools and trail edges and creating public‑safety hazards for hikers.
"The Long Pond Greenbelt is in crisis," the Friends’ presenter said, describing a string of 13 coastal plain ponds and a landscape the presenter called among New York State’s most environmentally significant. A video shown to the board documented deep ruts, destroyed trail sections and apparent ATV tracks along pond edges.
Frank Calveto, executive director of the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center, described declines in salamander and amphibian populations tied to habitat disturbance and urged the board to hire a nature‑preserve enforcement ranger who understands sensitive habitats. "These organisms rely entirely on ancestral vernal pools to successfully reproduce and complete their life cycles," Calveto said.
Presenters and residents said police often arrive after offenders have left, that CPF (Community Preservation Fund) staff capacity or jurisdictional limits have left gaps, and that a single ranger would need backup and camera monitoring to be effective. The group suggested possible models including placing a ranger under bay constables (part of the police department), expanding CPF ranger authority, targeted camera deployment, and coordinated sting operations.
Board members acknowledged the long history of damage and agreed to pursue follow‑up meetings with the police chief, bay constables and CPF staff to explore staffing, cameras and enforcement options. Staff told advocates they would circulate possible meeting dates by email in the next day or two and include the Friends in scheduling.
No funding decision or ordinance was made at the session; the board asked staff to convene the follow‑up meeting to assess resource needs and interagency options.
