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Bill

A 11447

Authorizes the town of Huntington to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands to the Huntington African American Museum

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Brown and 4 co-sponsors

Allows transferring 9.733 acres of Huntington parkland to the Huntington African American Museum for exhibits/events, funded by replacing or upgrading parkland at fair value.

SUBSTITUTED BY S5932A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 11447

Summary of Bill A. 11447 (2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

  • Authorizes the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, to discontinue and alienate certain parklands and transfer them to the Huntington African American Museum for the purpose of displaying exhibits and hosting events.
  • The action is contingent on compliance with specified conditions, including a requirement to fund replacement parkland or capital improvements to other park and recreational facilities.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1: Authority granted to the Huntington town governing body to discontinue the use of designated parklands as parkland and alienate those lands to the Huntington African American Museum for exhibits and events. The terms and conditions of the transfer are to be determined by the town's governing body.
  • Section 2: The authorization becomes effective only if the town dedicates an amount equal to or greater than the fair market value of the parklands being alienated toward:
    • Acquisition of new parklands, and/or
    • Capital improvements to existing park and recreational facilities.
  • Section 3: Specific parklands described as the subject of the alienation are the lands totaling 9.733 acres located in the Town of Huntington, with a description beginning at Pulaski Road and Park Avenue, and detailing multiple boundary lines and curves.
  • Section 4: If the town received any federal funding for the purchase, maintenance, or improvement of the parklands, federal requirements must be satisfied prior to alienation. This includes potentially ensuring substitution of other lands of equivalent fair market value and usefulness, as deemed necessary by the Secretary of the Interior.
  • Section 5: Effective date is immediate.

Affected parties and beneficiaries

  • Primary local government entity: Town of Huntington, NY.
  • Affected public asset: A 9.733-acre parcel of parkland described in Section 3.
  • Beneficiary organization: Huntington African American Museum (recipient of the parklands for use as exhibits and events).
  • General public: Potential impacts on park access and recreational use, subject to replacement parkland or improvements funded under Section 2.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Legislative path includes authorization contingent on funding commitments and compliance with federal requirements if federal funding was involved.
  • If federal requirements apply, the town must coordinate with federal authorities (Secretary of the Interior) to ensure substitution of lands of equivalent value and usefulness.
  • The act is designed to take effect immediately upon enactment.
  • The bill has been referred to and progressed through committees (Local Governments, then Rules), with the sponsor and co-sponsors listed.

Notable details

  • Required financial condition: The town must dedicate at least the fair market value of the alienated parklands to either acquiring new parklands or funding capital improvements to parks and recreational facilities.
  • Specific land description: The bill provides a detailed metes and bounds description of the 9.733-acre parcel to be alienated, including bearings, distances, and street references.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Public access to parkland could be reduced unless offset by replacement parklands or enhancements funded by the required dedication.
  • The transfer to a cultural institution (Huntington African American Museum) signals a shift in how the land may be used (from public parkland to exhibition and events space), subject to preservation or enhancement of overall park resources through Section 2.
  • Compliance with any federal requirements adds a layer of oversight, particularly if federal funds were used in acquiring or maintaining the land.

This summary presents the bill’s core purpose, the main provisions, who is affected, and important procedural notes, providing a clear view of how the proposed transfer would operate and under what conditions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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