Re: Breach into Stillwell Woods Preserve’s forest Seeded with Grass 

Kevin DeLury
Executive Office, Supervisor Joseph Saladino Town of Oyster Bay 
December 9, 2025 
kdelury@oysterbay-ny.gov 
By email:
Good day, Kevin. 

As is revealed in the attached photo, upon close inspection of the breach yesterday, there is now evidence that grass seed was spread and grass growth has begun. You can see both seeds and grass growth like a newly seeded lawn. 

This is a disturbing development that appears to flout all our efforts not only to encourage the planting of native trees and perennials, but also to plead our case for ensuring the TOB’s respect for the current boundary between the athletic fields of the preserve’s habitat. This certainly is not the message we received from Supervisor Saladino when we met with him on July 15th when he assured us that the breach would be rewilded in autumn. Supervisor Saladino also told us that the local government is the one we should trust most because the town maximizes accessibility. 

What’s worse, this is Nassau County property that the TOB is now apparently encroaching on by taking more land for its active use. If true, this is in direct violation of the Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) signed by the county and town that requires the following: 

(b) SUBJECT, however, to the understanding of the parties that, insofar as the Park was acquired by Grantor as perpetual preservation lands pursuant to County of Nassau Local 5 Law 5-1988, and further, insofar as the purpose of the transfer of the Premises pursuant to this deed is for the environmentally beneficial use of the Property by the Grantee and the County of Nassau (such use, the “Permitted Use”), nothing contained herein shall change or extinguish, or is intended to change or extinguish, the restricted and limited use of the Premises as perpetual 
preservation lands, and the use restrictions and the limitations contained in Local Law 5-1988 shall continue to run with the land and be binding upon Grantee, its successors and assigns. 

I received an email from TOB Special Counsel, Thomas M Sabellico on July 21st, 
stating, “At our meeting last week, the very first statement made by the Town’s 
representatives was that after consultation with the Town Attorney, the Town was 
proceeding to have the property surveyed, with a view toward obtaining a complete, 
detailed Survey that will provide a definitive line between areas of the property (active 
vs. passive [preserve], and detailing all features which exist on the property.” In no way should anyone infer from Sabellico’s statement that this “definitive line” will be one that intrudes into Stillwell’s forest.

Seeing grass seed spread on land that should have been rewilded does not provide an encouraging look for a municipality that seeks to be the steward of an ecological gem 
that sits upon a special groundwater protection area. Such stewardship requires trust in knowing that the TOB values Stillwell Woods Preserve for its wildlife habitats and trails. 

If the TOB is creating a lawn where habitat thrived on county parkland prior to the 
finalization of a transfer, what will happen if the TOB takes full possession of Stillwell 
Woods Preserve? Without a project proposal, which has not been released but is also 
required by your IMA, one can only guess what this breach might forebode. 

It is not too late to make things right. We urge the expeditious rewilding of this breach 
into the preserve’s habitat as per my previous emails to you regarding this matter. As 
we’ve done previously, it is our greatest pleasure to communicate good news that 
comes from TOB actions. Thank you for taking our concerns directly to Supervisor 
Saladino. 

On behalf of the South Shore Audubon Society Board of Directors, 

Guy Jacob
Conservation Co-Chair
South Shore Audubon Society https://www.ssaudubon.org/ 

Resources: 
The mission of the South Shore Audubon Society is to promote environmental education; conduct research pertaining to local bird populations, wildlife, and habitat; and to preserve and restore our environment through responsible advocacy, for the benefit of both people and wildlife. 

1. Intermunicipal Agreement between The County of Nassau, New York and The Town of Oyster Bay, New York in relation to the Transfer of Stillwell
Preserve: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46296/IMA Stillwell-Woods-Preserve 
cc: 
Thomas M Sabellico, Special Counsel, Town of Oyster Bay 
James McCaffrey, Director of Operations, Town of Oyster Bay 
Anthony C. Curcio, Deputy Town Attorney 
Assemblyman Steve Stern, 10th District 
Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, 15th District 
Senator Jack Martins 
George Gorman, Long Island Regional Director, OPRHP 
Nassau County Legislature 
Darcy Belyea, Nassau County Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Museums 
Ashley Dougherty, Assistant Secretary for Environment, NYS Governor’s Office 
Robert Calarco, Assistant Secretary for Long Island Intergovernmental Affairs