Assemblyman Keith Brown (R, C-Northport) held a press conference in Suffolk County yesterday to present a $500,000 check to Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium President Jim Kelly to help stabilize the museum’s boathouse, which has slowly been sinking into the Northport Harbor. The grant funding will help renovate and revitalize the boathouse, so it stands for years to come.

“The Vanderbilt Museum is the crown jewel of the county park system, and the boathouse is in such disrepair it is about to fall into Northport Harbor,” said Brown. “I am happy to have helped the Vanderbilt Museum secure this stabilization money to ensure the boathouse does not deteriorate further. This is the first step of the bold plan put forth by Jim Kelly, president of the Vanderbilt, to revitalize the structures on the grounds and help secure this important part of our heritage and culture here in Centerport. Many thanks to my colleagues in government, the board of trustees and the staff for putting together this grant application.”

“We are most appreciative of the $500,000 grant to help restore the boathouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to its original beauty,” said Kelly. “This is the first step toward restoring one of the most precious and beautiful assets of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, our waterfront. It is our goal to restore Mr. Vanderbilt’s seaplane hangar into additional exhibit areas and to build a boardwalk on the waterfront, which will allow our neighbors and patrons to come and enjoy the quiet beauty that is Northport Harbor.”

“We are also grateful to Assemblyman Keith Brown and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation for supporting this significant project,” said Vanderbilt Museum Executive Director Elizabeth Wayland-Morgan.

“On behalf of the village of Northport, we want to congratulate the Vanderbilt on this grant from the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation. The Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium is such a vital piece of Long Island Heritage. The Village looks forward to working with the museum on other proposed improvements to the waterfront area,” said Mayor Donna M. Koch.

“This is great news for the Vanderbilt. Receiving this grant will help expedite Suffolk County’s efforts to restore this local historic treasure. Many thanks to Assemblyman Keith Brown and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for this stabilization grant,” said Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi.

“Great job by Assemblyman Brown on securing this very needed funding for the Vanderbilt Museum. The museum is a wonderful resource for all of our residents and this funding will help them better serve all in our community,” stated Sen. Mario R. Mattera.