Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board Kicks Things Off After Year of Dormancy, Aims for Improvements

Throughout the past two decades, a Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board has periodically assembled in order to offer brainstorming opportunities, oversight and planning for the lake, its peripheral area and its surrounding watershed. Last night, the board reconvened at the Suffolk County Legislature building in Hauppauge after a year of being dormant.

Among many initial topics on the opening agenda was, "a driving force to sponsor lobbying State representatives for the inclusion of the lake into coastal zone management, providing eligibility for grants," said Suffolk County Legislator John M. Kennedy.

Kennedy added that they, "came very close to getting a $750,000 grant from State Emergency Management. At the 11th hour the County Executive waived us off, because we had no willing seller [for the former Bavarian Inn]. The owner is soon to be cut off.  He was completely unwilling to go into foreclosure. [Now] we received an offer from the County."

Kennedy said by next month's meeting they should know how close the vacant establishment is to foreclosure.

Among the desired ameliorations, the advisory board would like to see a boardwalk built around the lake for fishing and pedestrian use which Kennedy called "something tangible."

Ideally, those coming to Lake Ronkonkoma to shop can spend some time enjoying the bucolic setting.

"It would be great in these tough economic times," Kennedy said. "It would be healthy, quality time, and money would be going into Ronkonkoma merchants and entrepreneurs. It would benefit at the County level. It would be a natural recreation." 

But, Kennedy added, "All the good ideas in the world do no good without funding. It's about fair share. We raise revenue here; we want it to come back to us."

Schramm said building up the lake would provide a, "sustainable reinvestment."

Last week the Governor of New York signed a bill establishing Lake Ronkonkoma as a inland waterway – the first on Long Island. It will provide funding for the revitalization project.

The board's next meeting is April 14th. Board members will vote on a resuscitated task force. There will be a public portion included in the agenda, open to anyone who would like to speak and share their ideas for the re-invigorated visioning project.