Town Needs to Beautify West Islip Beach

The modest beach at the end of the West Islip Marina allows West Islip residents to experience a beach while being close to home and without having to pay high parking fees to go to Robert Moses or Jones. It is all the more reason for the Town of Islip to make an effort to make the West Islip Beach look a little nicer. The town should just give the small beach a little attention and we're not even talking about the renovation that is taking place at the Bay Shore Marina.

On Saturday, June 26, the Town of Islip will hold the grand opening of the Spray Park at the Bay Shore Marina from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

The park, according to the town, will feature a nautical theme and will provide entertainment for the whole family this summer. "This spray park will be the crown jewel in the long list of fun activities and parks for Islip's residents to enjoy this summer," said Town of Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan. "I look forward to the completion and grand opening of the park and encourage residents to come out and enjoy our newest attraction."

According to a town press release, the unveiling of the spray park is just one component of the revamping and upgrades that have been made to the Bay Shore marina, including new bulk heading, a refurbished bathhouse and concession stand, and parking improvements and increases. 

While it is commendable that the Town of Islip renovated the Bay Shore Marina with this new spray park, entitled Shipreck Cove, it should serve as a reminder that one beach in the Town of Islip in particular is in need of some sprucing up. That beach is the West Islip beach on Beach Drive. 

Clearly, with fiscal constraints on taxpayers being what they are, a complete overhaul of the West Islip Beach probably would not be in the cards. But there are things the Town of Islip can do and should be doing to beautify the beach in some way. New benches and tables can be put it to replace the ones that look as if they were once in an abandoned camp ground. The town can also make an effort to clean the area and perhaps could think about enlisting the help of such organizations as Keep Islip Clean. Maybe the town can manicure the area a little better so that weeds are growing out of the sand.

West Islip residents pay their fair share of taxes, perhaps even more than their fair share. We know from recent school budget discussions, that the residential property owners pay the bulk of the property taxes. The Homestead, or residential, tax rates account for 92 percent of the property tax bill. In Bay Shore, by comparison, the Homestead tax rate accounts for 68 percent of the property tax bill.

West Islip residents deserve a nicer beach to visit in their own neighborhood.