In a significant move to safeguard public open space along the Long Island Sound, the Riverhead Town Board is taking formal steps to evaluate the potential municipal acquisition of a prime 36-acre waterfront section within the historic Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp. Nestled along Sound Avenue in the Baiting Hollow agricultural corridor, the proposed land purchase forms the centerpiece of a multi-agency conservation strategy spearheaded by the Peconic Land Trust in partnership with Suffolk County and local municipal leaders.

The larger 145-acre property—owned by Nassau County for decades and operating as the state’s oldest 4-H camping facility—encompasses working farmland, mature woodlands, walking trails, and rare direct beach access along sensitive Sound-front bluffs. By authorizing an official land appraisal for the targeted acreage, Riverhead officials are positioning the town to secure critical public access to the shoreline while protecting sensitive coastal aquifers and preserving regional farming acreage from future residential subdivision.

Funding mechanisms for the broader conservation partnership are projected to leverage municipal open-space allocations alongside Suffolk County development rights purchases, state environmental grant programs, and private philanthropic contributions. Transitioning the coastal parcel into permanent public preservation reinforces the town’s commitment to environmental stewardship, protecting vital marine ecosystems and maintaining the scenic integrity of the North Fork’s northern coast.

Riverhead News Review:
https://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2026/04/133158/riverhead-could-acquire-large-sound-front-4-h-camp-property-in-baiting-hollow/

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