Harold H. Malkmes Wildlife Education and Ecology Center facts for kids
The Harold H. Malkmes Wildlife Education and Ecology Center is a special place in Holtsville, New York. It's like a park, a small zoo, and a nature education center all in one! The local government, the Town of Brookhaven, runs it. This center is named after Harold H. Malkmes (1925-2011), who was an important leader in the town government when the center first opened. You can find it at 249 Buckley Road.
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What Can You See and Do?
Meet the Animals
The center has an amazing Animal Wildlife Center. The best part is that it's free to visit! You can see over 100 animals here. Many of them are wild animals that were hurt or can't go back to living in the wild on their own. You might even see mountain lions!
One very famous animal resident is a groundhog named "Holtsville Hal." Every year on Groundhog Day, he comes out to make a prediction about the weather. It's a fun tradition!
Other Fun Things to Do
Besides the animals, there's lots more to explore. You can visit the greenhouses, which are special buildings where plants grow. There's also a nice picnic area where you can eat your lunch.
If you like to be active, there's a paved exercise trail that's about 1.2 miles long. It's great for walking or running. The center also gives away free compost and wood chips, which are helpful for gardening. There's even a town swimming pool, but you need to pay a small fee to use it.
History of the Center
From Old Dump to Nature Spot
The land where the Ecology Center now stands used to be a place where trash was dumped. New York State owned it first, and then the Town of Brookhaven took it over in 1937. They used it as a town dump for many years.
Later, in 1968, the site was changed into a more organized landfill. It was completely closed by 1974. Even before it closed as a dump, work had already started to turn it into a park in 1971. The Ecology Center officially opened its doors in 1979.
Mountain Lions Find a Home
The animal part of the center has had mountain lions since 1987. The first one, named "Kimo," was brought there after needing help from a difficult situation. The center provides a safe home for these animals.
Staying Open for Everyone
A few years ago, in 2013, there was a worry that the center might have to close because of money problems in the town's budget. But good news! The center is still open today. It is now officially known as the Town of Brookhaven Wildlife and Ecology Center.
