The East Hampton Town Board unanimously supported the acquisition of 134 Second House Road in Montauk, better known as the Pathfinder Country Day Camp, earlier this month.
The 4.14-acre camp is located on the shores of Fort Pond. The town will use $7.25 million from its community preservation fund to purchase the property for open space, recreation, and to improve water quality. The town has already preserved two adjacent parcels.
A public hearing was held on the purchase on May 7, and Scott Wilson, the director of land acquisition and management for the town, spoke of the parcel in glowing terms.
“I have walked this property a couple of times with current and past town board members, and the parcel is a bit magical,” he said. “Although we have been attempting to preserve this property for years, recent sales material was a bit jarring, showing a superimposed 10,000-square-foot house plunked on top of a traditional playground.”
“Acquisition of this property for recreation is a rare opportunity to preserve a legacy of children laughing, playing, and growing in our town,” he said.
No one was signed up to speak on the matter, and no one called in.
However, Ilan Rosenthal, who was there to speak on another public hearing, for a town land acquisition at 549 Wainscott Northwest Road, decided to add some thoughts.
“I’m here for another matter,” he said, “but if you’re going to be spending seven and a quarter million dollars on a camp that’s going to stay a camp, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to spend it on the aquifer where it’s supposed to be spent to protect our drinking water.”
