“Frank P. Petrone Crab Meadow Beach” name change official after ceremony

An afternoon ceremony was held at Crab Meadow Beach for former Town Supervisor Frank Petrone, whose name now precedes the title of the familiar destination. Several speakers and attendees gathered on the pavilion on Friday, October 14 to honor Mr. Petrone, including the current Huntington Town Board, former Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, Senator Jim Gaughran, and Northport Village Mayor Donna Koch. Friends and business acquaintances of Mr. Petrone’s were also present, as was his wife, Pat.

Mr. Petrone served as town supervisor for 24 years and is credited for his bipartisan environmental work, playing an instrumental role in renovating Crab Meadow Beach and conserving the Crab Meadow Watershed, a 680-acre public land assemblage comprised of the Jerome A. Ambro Memorial Wetlands Preserve, Fuchs Pond Preserve, Henry Ingraham Nature Preserve, Makamah Nature Preserve, Geisslers Beach, and Crab Meadow Beach and Golf Course.

During his tenure, Supervisor Petrone established the Northport Water Quality Protection Committee to develop an action plan to restore water quality in the Northport Harbor and Bay Complex. His administration also created the Crab Meadow Watershed Advisory Committee, which invited community input on a local stewardship plan intended to maintain and enhance the Crab Meadow Watershed.

In July, Councilwoman Joan Cergol sponsored the resolution, which was approved unanimously and solidified the beach’s new name: “Frank P. Petrone Crab Meadow Beach.”

“Frank Petrone did a great job for many years for the Town of Huntington and I’m very proud to be a co-sponsor with Joan [Cergol] for naming the park after Frank,” Councilman Gene Cook said after the vote.

Speakers at yesterday’s ceremony highlighted Petrone’s friendship and mentorship. A new beach sign was presented, making the name change official.