Suffolk Historical Society Looks to Purchase Riverfront Parcels

Looking toward downtown Riverhead as a "cultural corridor," spanning from the library to the Long Island Aquarium, the is looking to purchase three parcels along the Peconic Riverfront with the aid of a State Parks Department grant the town received.

Kathryn Curran, executive director of the SCHS, came before the town board Thursday morning at its weekly work session along with the president and vice president of the Board of Directors, saying she hopes to "establish the beginning of a riverwalk" with funding it has raised and hopes to continue raising, in concert with over $300,000 in grant funding - which needs to be matched in order to be received. The parcels the SCHS is aiming for are nearly across the street from its current location, east of the bridge near the intersection of Court Street and Route 25.

Christine Kempner, the town's community development director, said because the town doesn't have the money to match the grant, the town is going to transfer its status as the lead agent on the grant to the SCHS.

Curran said in addition to looking to move by the Peconic River, the SCHS would like to partner with East End Arts for a National Endowment for the Arts grant, to be used in cultivating a cultural corridor downtown, including signage, flags, and other improvements.

Last year, , in hopes of creating residential artists' space downtown, however they did not receive approval. Kempner said she's hoping by partnering with other local organizations, chances will be better of receiving anything up to $150,000 - which would need to be matched.

Supervisor Sean Walter expressed skepticism that Riverhead's requirement to match on several grants the town has received - including a in to help in planning and evaluating the area - would come at a cost to other things the town needs to get done with a shoestring budget.

"I love the idea of a campus-style historical society on the river," he said. "But my focus is getting the Armory up and running," referring to the . Later in its work session, the town board would also find itself disagreeing on what to do with $12,000, as Walter refused to spend the money Highway Superintendent Gio Woodson requested for security cameras.

But applying for a grant wouldn't hold the town to spending the money, Kempner said. She and Curran wanted to make sure their vision was in line with that the town board envisioned for the Peconic Riverfront.

"We are the county seat," Curran said. "You should really think of yourself as where you're located and what you have to offer here - a beautiful riverfront and little cultural pockets that are only going to grow."