On Saturday, May 18, 50 volunteers arrived at Bay Walk Park to clean over 2,000 pieces of trash from the sitting area, shoreline, and path.
Volunteer organizations that came out included Manhasset High School National Honor Society students, multiple Girl Scout troops, including Troops 633 and 4447 and a troop from Bayside, Queens, and Mineola High School Environmental Club members. Also on hand for the event was Port Washington North Mayor Robert Weitzner.
The Village of Port Washington North, the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee, the New York Chapter of the American Littoral Society, and the Town of North Hempstead sponsored the event.
This year’s crew picked up over 2,000 individual pieces of trash, much of which was lightweight items.
The top three most collected articles were tiny trash (less than 2.5cm in size), cigarette butts, and food wrappers. Among the more interesting finds were an anchor with rope and a half-full bottle of dish soap.
Most of the items collected were associated with food and drink: wrappers, glass and plastic drink bottles, bottle caps, and soda cans. Filmy plastic scraps, which were likely once plastic bags, were also a large portion of the collection.
If you are interested in volunteering for a future clean-up, the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is planning additional clean-ups: one for the summer at Manorhaven Beach and the other on September 21 back at Bay Walk Park. You can visit the Committee’s website and sign up to be kept informed of upcoming events at ManhassetBay.net.
Port Washington North Mayor Robert Weitzner said, “The Village of Port Washington North, as well as the entire Port Washington community, thanks the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee and its volunteers for organizing the cleanup of the shoreline of the Bay Walk Park. Their efforts go a long way in keeping our precious Manhasset Bay clean and a delight to visit and enjoy.”
“It’s not just the physical cleanup that’s so remarkable,” said North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. “It’s that you see neighbors uniting to protect and preserve their town’s beauty, and that’s what makes North Hempstead so special.”
Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte elaborated, “The commitment these young people showed at this cleanup is really indicative of a much larger trend. They’re willing to take ownership of the environment, giving me great hope for our future.”
State Assemblymember Gina Sillitti said, “I want to thank the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee for organizing another successful beach clean-up at Bay Walk Park in Port Washington. These events go a long way towards improving both our environment and keeping the bay the jewel of our community.”
State Senator Jack Martins added, “Trash robs us of the natural beauty our Bay affords us here in our town. If you love where you live and you want to preserve that beauty, then I encourage you to support the efforts of the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee.”
“It was a bit disheartening to see all the trash collected. But 50 people showed up, making a huge difference to Manhasset Bay, wildlife, and parkgoers. Thank you to all the volunteers,” said Manhasset Bay Protection Committee Director Sarah Deonarine.
The Manhasset Bay Protection Committee is an intermunicipal organization that aims to address water quality and coastal issues in Manhasset Bay with a coordinated, watershed-level approach.
The Committee has 15 member municipalities: Nassau County, the Town of North Hempstead, and 13 Villages that all voluntarily entered into an intermunicipal agreement. The Committee’s goals are to protect, restore, and enhance Manhasset Bay to ensure a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem while balancing and maintaining recreational and commercial uses. Tasks that help toward these goals include the annual volunteer beach clean-up.
