Restoring Broad Cove
February 13, 2026
Broad Cove was acquired by the Trust on December 31, 2021, with a vision to transform this former duck farm into a welcoming natural sanctuary filled with trails for the community to enjoy. Since then, our stewardship team has revitalized the nearly 100‑acre waterfront property, guiding it through an ambitious restoration effort that has reshaped the preserve into a thriving haven for both people and wildlife.
This transformation was made possible through generous support from the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Peconic Estuary Partnership, the Environmental Protection Agency, and several private foundations. With their support, the Trust installed a parking area, created two trails, added educational signage, benches, and improved the overall habitat through several invasive species management and removal projects and new plantings of native plant species.
One particular special project – a meadow restoration – included the removal of five acres of invasive species that were replaced with native grasses and shrubs such as broomsedge, little bluestem, big bluestem, and switchgrass. To accelerate the establishment of these native plant communities, 5,000 plugs were planted along the meadow trail, with an additional 1,000 plugs installed near the parking area.
This project has been three years in the making!
We invite you to come experience the beauty of Broad Cove firsthand and discover the incredible diversity of native species now flourishing across the landscape. Broad Cove can be found on Overlook Drive in Aquebogue.