Wildlife Organization Plans Rally To Fight Holtsville Ecology Center Closing

Amid Brookhaven Town's proposed budget plan to shutter the Holtsville Ecology Park and Zoo, the Brookhaven Wildlife Center has organized a rally to keep the site open.

Billed as the "Rally to Save the Ecology Site," the gathering will take place on Sunday, Sept. 30 at noon at the ecology site near the playground.

"The support the community has given so far has been tremendous, and the turnout at this rally will be crucial in continuing our efforts to keep the site open. We ask that everyone wear blue to show our solidarity," the nonprofit organization stated in its invitation.

Wildlife Center board members and community leaders are slated to speak at the event. Although invited, elected officials will not be taking the podium. Organizers are asking everyone that plans to attend to wear blue to show support.

Last week the Brookhaven Wildlife Center launched an online petition and Facebook campaign to save the Holtsville Ecology Center after it was revealed that the town board is entertaining the possibility of closing the site to save what it claims is $900,000 in annual expenses to operate it.