Portion Of Hempstead Harbor Renamed 'May Newburger Cove'

A portion of Hempstead Harbor has been approved to be named in honor of former North Hempstead Town Supervisor May Newburger, who had a passion for the environment.

The idea to dedicate a body of water in her memory was first brought up by elected officials in 2012, but federal law required a person to be deceased for at least five years before renaming a navigational channel in their honor. Newburger passed away in August 2012. In 2017, Sen. Chuck Schumer renewed his push to rename the body of water "May Newburger Cove."

“As beachgoers swim at Bar Beach, and kids play at North Hempstead Beach Park and boats dock at the cove, I know that May Newburger will be looking down on them and smiling,” Schumer said in a press release.

Newburger, a Great Neck resident, served five consecutive terms as Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead from 1994 to 2003, making her the first woman to serve as a town supervisor on Long Island. Before that, she was a member of the New York State Assembly for eight years and the North Hempstead Town Board for two.

“May Newburger’s passion was protecting and preserving the environment and I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to her than to have this serene cove overlooking Hempstead Harbor officially carry her name,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “I appreciate Senator Schumer’s urging the U.S. Board of Global Naming to approve this request.”

Newburger was dedicated to protecting the environment. As town supervisor, she secured $200,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to designate New Cassel as a Brownfields Pilot Community. She is also credited with creating The Environmental Legacy Fund, serves as a tool to preserve open space and create additional park land in all parts of the Town.

Schumer said that Newburger’s contributions to the town and Long Island will “forever be immortalized in Hempstead Harbor.”

For more information on May Newburger Cove and how to visit it, call (516) 869-6311.

Image via TONH