For residents of central Nassau County, it is increasingly difficult to locate areas where nature is preserved and accessible. The Francis T. Purcell Preserve is one such place that remains closed off to the public. This preserve, named after a former county executive who was an advocate for environmental preservation, could serve as a vital green space in our community.

Nassau County is home to over 1.3 million people and yet has limited natural spaces open for public use (U.S Census Bureau). Opening the Francis T. Purcell Preserve would provide residents with much-needed access to nature, promoting physical health and mental well-being.

The benefits of having access to natural spaces are numerous and well-documented; they include stress reduction, improved mood, increased physical activity levels among others (American Public Health Association). By keeping the Francis T. Purcell Preserve closed off from public use, we are denying these benefits from our community members.

It's time we change this situation by opening up the Francis T. Purcell Preserve for all residents of Nassau County to enjoy its beauty and reap its health benefits.

Please sign this petition if you believe in making nature more accessible in central Nassau County by opening up the Francis T. Purcell Preserve.

More information:

T Purcell Preserve is a large and beautiful nature preserve in Nassau County. It is next to Nassau Coliseum, Nassau Community College, Hempstead Plains, Eisenhower Park and the Hilton Hotel. It is also very close to Hofstra University, Museum row and Roosevelt Field mall. With planned developments next door this preserve would be a great compliment to all of the interesting places nearby.

Nature areas in this part of Nassau County are hard to find so opening to the public would be highly valuable. It would benefit the universities next door and add the experience of those visiting the other organizations and businesses nearby. This would range from college students, hotel guests, local employees, people shopping nearby, local residents and more.

As the area becomes increasingly developed, nature spaces are more and more important to keep and make available for people to enjoy amidst a busy and active urban area. This preserve can serve a similar purpose as Central Park does for New York City. While Eisenhower Park is a massive park nearby it does not have nature trails or provide a full and immersive nature experience. 

Purcell Preserve has a large creek, some varying elevation, beautiful trees, and differing landscapes. There are pre-established nature trails there that are maintained by people riding dirt bikes through out the preserve currently.

There is ample space if a parking lot would need to be added. Nature Preserves like this are commonplace on the North Shore of Long Island and there is likely something to be learned from those communities by making these nature spaces public. It will make the area a desirable place to be and bring peace and beauty into peoples' lives. Places like this can provide balance as more people will be living in the area and more housing developments are established.

Public use can also ensure protection of the environment and the wildlife that relies on it. This petition is dedicated to requesting Nassau County officials do what is necessary to make this valuable resource open, safe and accessible to residents and visitors of Nassau County. This location will bring a synergy to the area that will make people love spending time or their whole day shopping, learning, and resetting in nature. 

The form this conversion to public use will take is yet to be seen but local organizations like the Hempstead Plains group, local universities, Audubon societies, hiking groups, conservancy groups like the Nature Conservancy and more can be called upon for support. 

Since trails are already established they would just need to be maintained. The main preparation would be cleaning garbage that has accumulated. There is already cleared space where people could park. 

Your support can help the Long Island community not take our nature spaces for granted and lead to beautiful experiences for people visiting for years and decades to come. 

Currently there is not information on why this official county preserve is closed to the public but if you would like to change that please sign this petition.