Sachem Patch Earth Day Viewfinder: Ecology Site

This weeks Viewfinder takes a look at the Holtsville Ecology Center, which was a landfill that closed in 1974.

The park includes a 1.2 mile fitness track with various exercise stations, three swimming pools, a playground for the kids, several greenhouses, and of course the always popular animal preserve. Some of the more than 100 animals on display include mountain lions, buffalo, llamas, bobcats, peacocks, chickens, rosters and bald eagles. Feeding machines are available for 25 cents a handful so that visitors can feed the sheep, goats and ducks from their special diets.

Most of the animals are rehabilitating due to injury and can't be released back into the wild, as they would not survive if not in captivity. They were injured in the wild and the park nurses these animals back to full strength, while providing visitors the opportunity to see animals up close that they otherwise might have never seen. The preserve is open year round, and is always a big hit with children and animal lovers of all ages. Admission is always free of change but there is a suggested donation of $2 to help maintain the level of care the animals receive.

Outside the animal preserve is a recycling center, set up to keep Brookhaven a beautiful, waste-free place to live. Free compost and wood chips are provided to town residents for home flowerbeds and gardens. Many types of plants can be viewed in the site's greenhouses and parcels are available to residents to grow vegetables and flowers.