Environment DEC
From the December 2007 issue
Commissioner Grannis and Cardinal Egan Dedicate "John Cardinal O'Connor Lighthouse"
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis recently joined Edward Cardinal Egan and other city, state and federal partners to announce the dedication of the "John Cardinal O'Connor Lighthouse" memorial as a tribute to the connection Cardinal O'Connor had with the historic and environmentally important Mount Loretto area. Attendees also celebrated the commitment to increase the state's land holdings in the region by adding 100 acres to the Mount Loretto Unique Area using funding made available through innovative partnerships involving the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, The Trust for Public Land, and state and federal resources.
Lighthouse Celebrates O'Connor's Legacy
"Cardinal O'Connor was a tremendous public servant, spiritual leader, and truly appreciative of the beauty and serenity at Mount Loretto," DEC Commissioner Grannis said. "With this lighthouse designation, we celebrate his legacy and also the ongoing commitment by numerous public and private entities to continue preserving critical open space on Staten Island for the enjoyment of future generations of New Yorkers."
Pictured in front of the lighthouse from the left: Chris Zeppie, Port Authority; Leslie Wright, Trust for Public Land; Suzanne Mattei, DEC Region 2 Director; Andrew Lanza, NYS Senate; Pete Grannis, DEC Commissioner; Edward Cardinal Egan, and Vito Fossella Jr., U.S. House of Representatives
In the 1880s, Mount Loretto was a mission for homeless and disabled children owned by the Archdiocese of New York. In 1998, the state began negotiations with the archdiocese to acquire the property. With the aid of The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a nonprofit land conservation organization, the state was able to acquire 194 acres south of Hylan Boulevard at Mount Loretto. The acquisition included an endowment for the long-term stewardship of the property.
The lighthouse is located on land included in the state's original purchase of Mount Loretto. In tribute to the cardinal's personal connection to Mount Loretto, Prince's Bay Lighthouse has been renamed the John Cardinal O'Connor Lighthouse and a new beacon has been activated as an official aid to navigation. The beacon was donated by Rob Loesch of Blue Crane, LLC.
100 New Acres Also Added
An additional 100 acres will be added to the environmentally sensitive Mount Loretto area
Cardinal O'Connor's commitment to preserving open space includes the sale of 75 acres of woods and wetlands north of Hylan Blvd to DEC. The parcel, known as North Mount Loretto, will be added following a $12.5 million agreement negotiated by TPL using funding provided by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The purchase includes significant upland and freshwater wetlands that will provide additional flood and storm-water control, watershed protection, erosion prevention and sediment protection, and preservation of critical wildlife habitat.
In addition, with the assistance of TPL, DEC expects to acquire the 25-acre Sharrotts Road Shoreland parcels in the near future using funding from the Jamaica Bay Damages Account. Located on the western coast of Staten Island, the property consists of three separate lots of freshwater and tidal wetlands. The land will be used for passive recreation such as hiking and birding, and public access to the Arthur Kill. The parcels will join other recent acquisitions, such as Butler Manor Woods-an 18-acre parcel acquired by the state last year with the assistance of both of New York's senators, Congressman Vito Fossella, the Port Authority, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and a mitigation fund administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The lands will further protect Mount Loretto Unique Area's diverse and ecologically important habitats.
More Information
The parcels announced recently are listed as priority projects in the state's Open Space Conservation Plan and also are priorities with the Harbor Estuary Program. See the Mount Loretto Unique Area web page on DEC's website for more information. Also, see the complete press release upon which this story was based for the comments of other officials present at the lighthouse dedication.
