Business View Civil & Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 8

47 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8 TOWN OF R I VERHEAD , NEW YORK Center, and Tanger Factory Outlets. The industrial businesses in Riverhead’s Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL) contribute to this strong workforce, with Island International Enterprises’ 450 workers and several more at Global Marine Power’s Hustler Powerboats headquarters. Peconic Bay Medical Center and EPCAL are making way for an additional workforce boost. Northwell Health recently purchased a 14-acre site next to the main facility to add high-paying jobs. Meanwhile, the redevelopment continues at EPCAL with high-tech improvements to make way for additional high-paying industrial/ technology jobs. Back in 2000, the Navy closed the former 3000- acre weapons industrial reserve plant after contracting the Grumman Aircraft Corporation – now called Northrop Grumman – to build F14 Tomcat fighter aircraft and the Apollo Lunar Module there. “The Navy recognized that we were going to have, obviously, loss of taxes, incomes, and job opportunities, so they deeded it to us so we can develop it to stabilize our economy,” Aguiar explains. The space became beneficial to the public for recreational use after the town used three grants gifted to them along with the property to create a nine-mile trail surrounding it. Weaving through part of the Long Island Pine Barrens, the trail loop has become a popular recreational activity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, for locals wanting to bike, walk, and hike to catch the scenic vistas. As for the town’s entrepreneurial ventures, Stark-James enthuses, “They are on the rise.” The upcoming Island Waterpark exemplifies that quality with plans to launch in September. The 50-acre attraction offers not only an indoor surf pool, but eco-friendly waterskiing, and a high- end restaurant, but will also offer hospitality internships in partnership with Riverhead’s school system. “That’s going to be considered similar to a Disney destination park for everyone