MELVILLE, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — The horses are officially back at a Suffolk County park that was once full of contamination because of illegal dumping.
Three years ago, the dozens of horses that called West Hill County Park home had to be removed because 11,000 tons of contaminated materials were dumped illegally on park grounds.
“There are some people who might think that illegal dumping doesn't rank up there as a significant crime. That is not the case. This is a disgraceful act,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.
Though, there was good news on Thursday, where county officials announced that 60 horse will return for children's camp riding lessons and more next month now that the 800-acre park has been decontaminated.
Many other areas of the county also had illegal dumping scandals. At West Hill County Park, those found guilty of the crime had to pay for the clean-up process.
“Illegal dumping is a systemic problem. We know it happens here and there, but what we've discovered, that it’s really happening in a much more pervasive way than we could have imagined, and fortunately we are working closely with law enforcement to hold those people accountable,” Bellone said.
Parks officials said roughly 16,000 cubic-yards of toxic material was removed.
The West Hills Stables are set to open to the public in early June.