Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. and State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle today announced that their legislation authorizing the transfer of a portion of Suffolk County parkland to the Town of Southampton has been signed into Law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The facility, colloquially referred to as the Shinnecock Commercial Fishing Dock, is on parkland, and therefore requires state legislation to allow the county to transfer the property to the town. Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming helped push legislation through the County Legislature supporting the state bill. The dock, home to the town’s commercial fishing fleet, is in poor shape and costly to maintain.

“I was pleased to work with Senator LaValle in helping Legislator Fleming with this transfer of Suffolk County parkland to Southampton Town, and I am thrilled that the Governor signed our bill into Law,” stated Assemblyman Thiele. “The Shinnecock Commercial Fishing Dock is a critical resource in this town and in need of repair. This transfer will protect county taxpayers from covering capital repair costs while allowing the town to make dock improvements that will better serve the thriving fishing industry.”

Senator LaValle said, “I am pleased that the property transfer legislation that Assemblyman Thiele and I sponsored has now become Law. It will enable necessary improvements to be made to the Shinnecock Commercial Dock so that both recreational and commercial uses can continue. With the park soon to be operated and maintained by the Town of Southampton, fishing will remain the great tradition that it is on the East End.”