Community Members Restoring Dorchester Park

Sometimes, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself.

Dorchester Park Neighborhood Watch members decided to take matters into their own hands Saturday, holding a park beautification event at the park located on Sycamore Avenue in Lake Grove.

This action comes after numerous pleas to the Town of Brookhaven for assistance with park restoration efforts. Rosa Patac, Dorchester Park Neighborhood Watch Captain, said though the town has responded to some degree, they still need more help—which she said has been difficult to receive, with the town citing budget cuts. But compared to other town parks with new playground equipment, better landscaping and irrigation systems, she said the neighborhood feels a bit slighted.

"A lot of people stopped using the park because of the dog [waste], urine smells, graffiti, heroine needle ... they’re being negative that way, I think. The people who are trashing it, they win then," Patac said.

So Patac decided she would do something about it herself. With Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh’s help, she recently made some progress. Using mulch, gloves, garbage bags and soil donated by the town and six flats of flowers provided by the Holtsville Ecology site, they got to work.  About 15 people came throughout the day to help, including some neighborhood children who want to be able to better enjoy the park.

"I would like to see this place cleaned up and back to how it was before," said Christopher Lubben, 11.

When asked what she wanted the park to look like, Alyssa Patac, 6, said, "Brand new."

However, Patac said a facelift is not the only thing the park needs. With several recent incidents including vandalism, muggings, and drug use, member Debbie Lubben said many neighborhood residents do not feel safe using the park.

"I have a son in sixth grade, and I don’t feel safe sending him down here, and that’s unfortunate," Lubben said.

They said the town has taken some preventative measures to increase safety including the removal of hangout areas and large bushes as well as the installation of lights. Patac added the town does respond quickly to remove graffiti, though some was present on playground equipment on Saturday.

Lubben said to make the park safer, more patrols are needed.

"The Town of Brookhaven Code Enforcement does patrol the park two days a week. But the kids know the other days they aren’t going to come. Even if we call the Suffolk County Police Department, if there are other emergencies, the parks always are going to be last," she said.

Patac said they have made great headway so far, but there is still room for town response improvement. In the meantime, she said the group is planning continue to work on the park themselves, and are planning a big fall cleanup.

Patac said she will also continue to call upon the town for help. "I’m just going to keep pressuring them until we get what we deserve."