Meaningful Impact | New Suffolk Waterfront
May 15, 2026
By Yvette DeBow-Salsedo
As far back as 1989, the New Suffolk Civic Association was concerned about the future of the waterfront and connected with the Peconic Land Trust on possible solutions. Fast forward to 2005, the opportunity to acquire the 3.4-acre property was on the table. At that time, the community came together to establish the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund as its own 501(c)(3) and to begin raising funds for the property’s acquisition. The Fund worked with the Trust on community meetings to understand the community perspective, and in December 2007 the Trust acquired the property using funding from our revolving fund, the Peter J. Sharp Fund for the Environment. This provided the time needed by the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund to raise the money to acquire the property, which happened in December of 2010. Today the Fund manages a lease of the old Galley Ho building to a restaurant, manages the docks, has vibrant community gardens, established a boardwalk along the entire 240-foot western edge, and submarine beach, named in honor of its former role as the location for trials for the first US Navy submarine, the USS Holland.
To learn more about the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, visit them online at www.NewSuffolkWaterfront.org
Yvette DeBow-Salsedo
Vice President
ydebow@peconiclandtrust.org