Nearly a century ago, the residents of the hamlets of Mattituck and Laurel (within Southold Town) were concerned about potential riparian development and the loss of access to the beaches and shore. In 1924 they petitioned the State for the formation of a park district within the Town of Southold to acquire lands for park purposes. Later, in 1941 the Mattituck Park District was created by an act of the New York State Legislature, by repealing the prior act and formally creating the MPD as a special municipality.