The Mattituck Park District has announced the start of revitalization efforts at Sabat Field, located on Bay Avenue. This fall and next spring, the district will trim phragmites, create a native pollinator meadow with a half-mile path, and add a kayak storage and launch area. The current work will set the stage for a planting day, when 1,750 plants will arrive for installation. To ensure all plants are in the ground by nightfall, the park district is seeking at least 50 volunteers.
Volunteers are invited to help on Saturday, November 16, starting at 1 p.m. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, November 17, also at 1 p.m. Walk-in volunteers are welcome on the day of the event.
The district has begun preparing the property by scraping it to create berms along its borders. These berms will eventually reach heights of 2 to 3 feet and will be topped with plantings. Drone footage has been released to showcase the current state of the property.
According to Alexandra Getches, a commissioner at the park district, the finished berms will enhance the visual appeal of the area and provide environmental benefits. “We are revitalizing the Bay Avenue park property by adding a half-mile nature trail and planting native pollinator meadows,” Ms. Getches stated. “This project aims to restore the area to its native species and provide habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies.”
Future plans for the park include replacing worn-out tennis courts with new ones in a different location and installing a gazebo where the existing courts are. Additionally, a small bridge will be built across the narrow section of James Creek.
Ms. Getches noted that relocating the tennis courts will be one of the project’s biggest challenges. “This requires seeking grants, as it is a costly endeavor,” she explained. “We hope to secure funding next year to move the courts, which will allow us to convert that area into additional meadow space. We are also considering a gazebo and benches along the trail for peaceful sitting spots, along with a trail for a kayak launch.”
Revitalizing Sabat Field is just the beginning of a series of projects aimed at enhancing the park system. “We are also planning a similar project at Wolf Pit,” Ms. Getches said. “This will include a walking trail and native plantings to clean the water and make it a wonderful recreational area. We will likely hold another volunteer planting day in the spring for Wolf Pit.”
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