South Queens, NY – New York State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) was joined by New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on a tour of the 23rd Assembly District which encompasses the majority of the Rockaway Peninsula. Speaker Heastie, who is the leader of the State Assembly and is considered one of the three most powerful individuals in the State government, toured Bayswater Point State Park. The purpose of the tour was to show the incredible conservation work being done for Jamaica Bay by the New York State Parks Department in partnership with the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC). Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato has been key in securing funding for conservation and shoreline restoration efforts across Jamaica Bay.

Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato and Speaker Heastie were shown Bayswater Point State Park by Executive Director of Jamaica Bay-Rockaways Park Conservancy Terri Carta. The three of them, along with fellows from JBRPC and employees from the State’s Parks Dept., saw the efforts to rebuild the shoreline, the ongoing effort of removing invasive species of plants, and the wide variety of cleanups that have been ongoing in that area. In addition, the Assemblywoman and Speaker spoke with members of the JBRPC fellowship program about their interest in the environment. Several fellows indicated that because of this program, which is funded through efforts made by Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, that they are seeking a career in environmental stewardship.

“I want to thank Speaker Heastie for joining me today to tour Jamaica Bay- the crown jewel of New York. The New York State Parks Department, along with the incredible volunteers from the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, work to ensure that our shorelines and parks are safe, clean and are being restored to peak condition. I am incredibly proud to partner to also teach people about the rewarding career opportunities in environmental conservation, something that is incredibly important on this Peninsula. Through these efforts we are elevating Jamaica Bay for our community and New York State,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato.

“I’m honored to be invited to tour the beautiful Bayswater Point State Park with Assemblymember Pheffer Amato,” said Speaker Heastie. “It’s incredible to see the preservation efforts in action, and I’m proud of the work the Assembly Majority continues to do to ensure these parks are just as special for the next generation of New Yorkers.”

"We're so grateful to Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato for her support of our Wetlands Fellowship and other programs to improve public parklands and marsh areas," said Terri Carta, Executive Director of Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. "We were thrilled to showcase our work for Speaker Heastie and appreciate his interest in building nature-based career pathways in Jamaica Bay for local communities."