EPCAL bike path

Officials today held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the four-mile extension of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Trail, a multi-purpose paved athletic trail planned to eventually be extended around the entire perimeter of the enterprise park.

Riverhead Town has landed another $150,000 to help it complete a biking/hiking trail at the Calverton Enterprise Park, but what to do about an unpaved section of the trail remains in dispute.

“This is when Long Island looks its best,” said Steve Kuhl, a member of Riverhead's alternative transportation committee. “This is the optimum season right now, not only for cyclists, but anyone who hikes or walks."

State environmental regulators issue Riverhead Town a warning letter on materials stockpiled at EPCAL, which the state says came from an unauthorized facility and must be removed from the site. Tests indicate the materials can be used for industrial purposes, such as roadbed, relieving the town of potentially expensive disposal costs.

The bike path and surrounding areas at the Calverton Enterprise Park have been closed by the town for the month of January due to deer-hunting season, which opened Jan. 4 and continues through Jan. 31, and this year includes weekends.

The Suffolk County Legislature Monday unanimously approved $200,000 in funding toward the completion of a planned 8.9 mile paved bike path in Calverton.