Scudder no longer a clutter

Northport's Scudder Park is looking cleaner after village officials redoubled the response to resident complaints that it had been plagued with litter.

Overgrown trees have been trimmed, dead ones removed and the sand on the beach has been raked, among other improvements, village administrator Tim Brojer said Tuesday. Workers have also have been doing daily cleanups.

Several residents had spoken out at a September village board meeting, saying officials have neglected the park -- particularly in comparison to the treatment of the two high-traffic parks nestled between the end of Northport's popular Main Street and the harbor.

Scudder Park also sits on Northport Harbor, but officials have said it has fewer visitors and big events, despite being about a half-mile south of downtown.

"It looks much better -- thank you," resident Terence Augustyn, 60, said to village trustees at an Oct. 6 meeting.

"It's not often people say 'thank you,' " Deputy Mayor Henry Tobin said. "It feels good."

Village workers also cleaned a construction site adjacent to the park, Brojer said.

"We have been clearer with residents that they have to clean up after themselves," Brojer said.

Officials previously said parties often lead to litter. But some residents said they want village officials to do more to beautify the park, along with consistent, ongoing attention.

"It looks a lot better," said Debra Augustyn, 60, Terence Augustyn's wife, on Tuesday. "But we've been through this before where there's a flurry of activity and then they go [focus] somewhere else."

Anthony Niosi, another resident, said he is waiting for officials to come up with a "vision" for the park. He suggested a cultural and artistic theme, with local artists donating sculptures and different musical and cultural events held there.

"This isn't just about picnic tables," Niosi said. "We think that park can show a theme . . . [Northport] does not always have to have live music at Main Street, bring it here."