Theodore Roosevelt County Park
| Montauk County Park | |
|---|---|
 Location of Montauk County Park within New York State
|
|
| Type | Regional park |
| Location | Montauk, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°03′22″N 71°54′02″W / 41.0562°N 71.9005°WCoordinates: 41°03′22″N 71°54′02″W / 41.0562°N 71.9005°W |
| Area | 1,157 acres (4.68 km2) |
| Operated by | Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation |
Montauk County Park, formerly known as Theodore Roosevelt County Park, is located approximately three miles (4.8 km) east of Montauk, New York. The park is 1,157 acres (4.68 km2) in size, running from Montauk Highway north to Block Island Sound and is bordered on the east by Montauk Point State Park.
Montauk County Park was created from 1971 to 1986 through a series of land acquisitions by Suffolk County with the help of Hilda Lindley and the Concerned Citizens of Montauk. It was named for Theodore Roosevelt in 1998 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of his return to Long Island following the Spanish–American War, however it was re-named "Montauk County Park" in 2014 after concerns were raised about the insignificance of Roosevelt's actual involvement with the area.
The park includes:
Big Reed Pond was designated as a registered National Natural Landmark in 1973. Its ecosystem is at the confluence between fresh water and brackish water, as the pond is fresh water but some of the wetlands that border it are brackish. The local sandy soil and high rates of precipitation create a fragile homeostatic balance between fresh water and saltwater. The maintenance of the County Park as open space helps to maintain this balance.
The Montaukett tribe originally occupied this area of Long Island. In the late 17th century Chief Wyandanch gave much of the South Fork of Long Island to Lion Gardiner. The remaining Montauk were still living in the area until the Montauk peninsula was purchased by Arthur Bensen in 1879. The ruins of a sweat lodge and part of the village are still visible. The Pharaoh Museum is located in a small cabin near Third House and contains displays of the tools and pottery used by the Montaukett. Stephen Talkhouse, whose round trip walks of 30–50 miles (48–80 km) inspired the Paumanok Path, is buried in the cemetery.
...
Wikipedia