History 

Centuries ago, Mattituck and Laurel were inhabited by the Algonquins. The name Mattituck translates from the Algonquin as “land of few trees" and also as “great creek”. These names are suitable, since salt marshes cover the areas around Mattituck Creek and the Park District owns the lands on both sides of the Mattituck Inlet.

 

The mission of the Park District—continuing the vision commenced by its founders—is to protect, preserve, and enhance our resources for its residents and for future generations, while maintaining the rural character of the community and the preservation of open space. 

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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. Thus it can be argued that in 2024, the Mattituck Park District had it's soft, informal centennial.

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The Mattituck Chamber of Commerce was creating a brochure to attract visitor to Mattituck and realized that the only public beaches were located at the various road ends. Local residents were already using a Long Island Sound beach, thanks to the generosity of the Ward family (the owners of what later became Breakwater Beach).

 

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. The first Board of Commissioners was Mr Harold R Reeve, Sr, Dr John L Wasson, and Mr McNulty.

 

The first acquisition was in fact Breakwater Beach, which the Ward Family generously sold for $15,000 in 1942. The property was 750' of land, adjacent to the western jetty of the Mattituck Inlet. An additional 150' of shoreline was added to Breakwater Beach in 1969 when the commissioner purchased a parcel from Mr William Lohr for $17,500.

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Also in 1942, the commissioners authorized the purchase of a beach on Great Peconic Bay from the estate of Mr John Husing. The 420' beach, today known as Peconic Bay Park, was purchased for $7,500 (the price was reduced by $500 by the sale of a 20' strip to the Mattituck Yacht Club).

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In the same year, the commissioners purchased 100' of property at the head of the Mattituck Inlet (Love Lane and the North Rd) for $500 from Mrs Clara W Reeve. A neighboring parcel was donated by Miss Caroline Bell.

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In 1944, the Mattituck Park District acquired their second sound-front property, this time on the east side of the Mattituck Inlet. Mr Lloyd Hamilton sold the MPD the 1,820-foot-long Bailie Beach, once belonging to Miss Myra Bailie. The property is the site of the local Scout Lodge, which is used by local and other LI troops for outings.

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After the end of World War II in 1945, returning soldiers began to seek greener pastures outside of crowded New York City, which began to drive real estate prices up. In 1956 when the Wickham-Gildersleeve property on Peconic Bay Boulevard came on the market, the Mattituck Park District purchased it for the bargain price of $45,000. The property offered 350' of sandy beach and several buildings. in 1960, the adjoining parcel to the west was purchased for $20,000. This added an additional 200' of property (it is where the picnic are/field is today). 

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In 1963, the MPD purchased for $8,500 from Mr Edward A Abitz the Bay Avenue property AKA Sabat Meadow on James Creek. Residents overwhelming approved the purchase by 96 to 9. The property, once had a Little League field, but it now is the the home to two tennis courts and Mattituck's only public pollinator garden.

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Four years later in 1967, Judge and Mrs Ralph W Tuthill, Sr. donated a glacial kettle pond, which was long known as Wolf Pit Lake, to the MPD. The property on Wickham Avenue is actually two parcels consisting of the lake itself and then another smaller portion across Old Tuthill Rd which is leased by the Town of Southold and contains a sump.  It is a serene and pastural place, great for birdwatching, hiking, and relaxing around the shallow lake. In past years, when there were longer and deeper freezes, the lake was popular with iceskaters.

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The only acquisition which garnered controversy was the lakefront property on Marratooka Lake on the Main Road across from the Mattituck High School. The 4.5 acre property was purchased in 1973 from the Schwicker Family, after a very close vote in a special referendum. The voters approved the $23,000 purchase by 364 to 324, in a special referendum. The main reason for the purchase was to preserve the land in perpetuity and prevent further construction.

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The final acquisition to date is located on Aldrich Lane in Laurel and was purchased in 1980. The Town of Southold purchased it by issuing a $15,000 bond. It was then given to the MPD. The total projected cost was  $22,000 and the MPD had to make up the difference. For a short time, it was the home to the Mattituck Mets college baseball team, but was later converted into soccer fields. In 2025, a dog park was added to the property. It also hosts the maintenance garage of the MPD.  

 

The Park District owns a total of 63 acres, situated between Great Peconic Bay and the Long Island Sound and which in total, were acquired for approximately $170,00. The actual value today is priceless.

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The properties include beaches, parks, a boat ramp, wetlands, lakes, and athletic fields. They are the private property of the District property owners. (Note: permanent residents have full use of these properties.)

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