Community group makes lake its mission

Untamed trees and overgrown weeds make Long Island's largest freshwater lake barely visible to drivers at certain points along Lake Shore Drive in Ronkonkoma. But the more than 240-acre kettle lake that is Lake Ronkonkoma, a remnant of the ice age, was once a summer hot spot for the Vanderbilts and local residents alike.

"Why go to the Riviera? We've got it right here!" was a calendar slogan back in 1932, when women sported wool bathing suits, male lifeguards strutted in tight outfits akin to today's wrestling uniforms and children swarmed the water slides. People of all ages traveled from around Long Island, Queens and Manhattan to enjoy what was once a resort area for the rich.

But on a recent July day, the Lake Ronkonkoma scene looked less like a vibrant vacation spot and more like an unkempt, neglected bundle of nature. A couple of local residents were already well aware of this sight and decided to take action, giving birth to the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association.

A chance meeting

Its mission is threefold: to build greater awareness of the town and lake; to generate interest in the lake; and to promote an understanding and appreciation of the community's history.

It all started by chance two years ago. Ellyn Okvist, whose family has lived in the community of Lake Ronkonkoma for five generations, began renovating her grandparents' home, which Okvist inherited in 2007. Gerry Gibbons Jr., living down the block, noticed the changes as he drove by one June day. He made a point to stop and admire the work, sparking conversation with Okvist.

Okvist was surprised to learn that Gibbons, a compliance officer for a brokerage firm, was planning to clean up debris in the lake, and she started picking his brain to gauge how much he knew about the town. For the first time, Okvist, 55, had met her Lake Ronkonkoma match. Gibbons, 42, has lived in the community his entire life. The two bumped into each other a few more times after that, reminiscing about the past and venting about the town's declining civic involvement. By their fifth encounter, they decided to act.

"I wasn't feeling any sense of companionship or connection between residents and the town anymore," Okvist said. "My family has always had an active presence in the town, and we have to do something to make other residents love their town, too."

Besides bringing more attention to Lake Ronkonkoma and cultivating greater town pride, Gibbons says his Heritage goal is to see people "clean up after themselves" and take better physical care of the town.

"The first time I met Ellyn, I was cleaning that lake," Gibbons said. "I shouldn't have to do that."

Gibbons -- whose fondest childhood memory is of riding and jumping his bike into Lake Ronkonkoma as a 10-year-old with his friends -- spent that day on the Brookhaven side of the lake, turning what should have been a leisurely afternoon of kayaking into an intense cleaning mission.

"I pulled out a car door, motorized wheelchair, regular wheelchair, around 27 [plastic vinyl] chairs, a water heater and a 300-pound cast-iron sink," he said. "I also brought my plastic garbage cans with me and filled around 15 cans of broken glass."

The lake and its surrounding property are owned by Suffolk County and the towns of Brookhaven, Islip and Smithtown.

"Each municipality is responsible for taking care of their portion of the land and the water within that property," said Emily Laurie, community relations director for Suffolk County Parks.

Building community

Gail Flood, a Heritage member and town resident for the past 45 years, remembers driving to Lake Ronkonkoma from Queens as a child, before her family moved to West Islip when she was 11. Back then, the lake was known as Hollywood Beach.

"It was always a fun day at Hollywood Beach," Flood said. "What my sister and I loved most were the high slides into the water. All the kids would line up all day to use them. It was a wonderful family place. At night, the cool evening air was the last thing we'd savor as we got back into the car and returned to the city heat."

Now, residents representing many generations are getting involved in the Heritage Association. The 20 or so members include Okvist's eldest daughter, Ashley, 28, who said she envisions "a place to take nice walks through town and have people waving to each other. To see a neighbor in distress and without hesitation stop to see if you can help."

The group's first big event will be Aug. 7: a "Sunday Drive" vintage car parade followed by a barbecue. The parade will start at 9:45 a.m. at 1717 Motor Pkwy. in Hauppauge, and the cars will make their way six miles to Raynor Beach County Park in Ronkonkoma. The Ronkonkoma Fire Department will be honored at the barbecue, to be held at the park from noon to 4 p.m.

More than 40 local groups, such as the Heritage Association, the library and the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society, will have tables set up at the barbecue to educate and speak with residents.

"I think it's important for residents to get involved and support the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association so that future generations can appreciate the rich history of this community," said longtime resident and Suffolk County Legis. Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma), whose district includes Lake Ronkonkoma.