Legislator Leslie Kennedy, of the 12th Legislative District, visited the Rosemar Construction–whose headquarters are based out of East Moriches—crew tasked to repave the Blydenburgh County Park South Entranceway on April 24th.
This section of road extends from Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge to the Blydenburgh-located Dog Park. This visit came a day after Kennedy, together with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, provided an update on the status of Stump Pond’s revival.
Long beloved by generations of dog walkers and hikers, Blydenburgh took a substantial hit last year after the August superstorms. Canines were forced to congregate elsewhere. Camping was ruled out indefinitely. And interactive playgrounds became the opposite.
However, leadership aligned with Kennedy became determined to implement several rounds of improvements in short order. During a time when residential relief from the State and beyond was not guaranteed, replenishing a community’s home away from home was added to the top of their list of many priorities.
There is still much to be done, but summertime at Blydenburgh won’t be a time for sulking—that much is certain. Soon enough, boating, canoeing, kayaking and freshwater fishing will return as well, Legislator Kennedy’s office confirms.
The hiking trails within Blydenburgh County Park are courtesy of the Long Island Green Belt Trail Group. The site recently welcomed a Hauppauge Vietnam Veterans Memorial as well.
In addition to the road paving grant and $6.5 million obtained to restore the Stump Pond dam, the 12th Legislative District also brought in: silt remediation, sidewalk funding for Smithtown and Brookhaven, and $2.5 million to repair and replace the weir and “sluiceway” at Miller’s Pond.
With regard to repaving, funding initially came through as part of the 2025 Capital Project grant Kennedy filed in the Spring of 2024.
“This project has really been 30 years overdue,” said Legislator Kennedy. “Blydenburgh has been through a lot in the past year, and this is just one of the many projects we’re working on to make Blydenburgh the park it deserves to be.”