Community Corner
The Hempstead Plains: A Story of Preservation, Restoration and Education
NCC biology professor Dr. Betsy Gulotta spreads awareness of historical land.
Do you know where to find the last few acres of untouched plains area east of the Allegheny Mountains?
You’re practically standing on it here in Garden City. The last remnants of the Hempstead Plains are located on the Nassau Community College (NCC) property, close to the Meadowbrook Parkway.
NCC biology professor emeritus, Dr. Betsy Gulotta, recently presented a PowerPoint program entitled “Hempstead Plains- A Story of Preservation, Restoration and Education” that showed its historical and biological importance. The program was sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the Garden City Public Library.
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After announcements by Georgene Harrison and Joan Afflerbach of the AAUW, the audience was amazed to find out that the Hempstead Plains once covered 40,000 acres of land across Nassau County. That is equivalent to 64 square miles. This tall grass prairie habitat shaped our history with agriculture, horse-racing, aviation and housing. Now a 19-acre portion of it serves as a living laboratory for NCC students and their professors.
“Betsy Gulotta’s presentation was amazing! I don’t think any of our AAUW members realized that we have this natural treasure in our own backyard. Our interest group, ‘Let’s Get Up and Go’ is planning a docent-led visit to the Hempstead Plains when the wildflowers are in bloom. Can hardly wait!" said Harrison, AAUW president.
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With 40 years of teaching biology at the college level, which included field courses in the Rain Forest of Costa Rica, Gulotta is skilled in protecting the Hempstead Plains in an ecologically significant way. She is the conservation project manager for Friends of Hempstead Plains, a non-profit organization. For upcoming events and more information on the Friends of the Hempstead Plains, visit www.FriendsOfHP.org or call 516-572-7570.
The AAUW is a national organization with over 100,000 members, founded in the 1880s. Its mission is to advance equality for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. It’s open to all women who have graduated college. The Garden City branch has been in existence for over 75 years. It has monthly meetings with speakers at the Garden City Public Library.
