Does the National Park Service want to buy the entire dune and beach on Fire Island?
The National Park Service believes that the beach and dunes should be free from construction and open to public use. This is reflected in the seashores Congressional testimony as well as the zoning standards for Fire Island National Seashore. This may mean ownership by the National Park Service, ownership by another government entity, or private ownership. The objective is an unimpaired dune and beach. Who owns the land is not significant as long as it remains undeveloped. When Fire Island National Seashore was established, Senator Jacob Javits sponsored the legislation and worked hard for the park’s approval in Congress, as did many Fire Island residents. This quote is from his testimony before Congress in 1963: “The entire dune and oceanfront should be preserved for the public instead of having these public funds benefit commercial developers.” Congress has directed the National Park Service to maintain the natural state of undeveloped property within the Dune District. Public Law 95
