Wading River Eagle Scout Installs Information Kiosk at Baiting Hollow Preserve

Visitors to the Sound Avenue Nature Preserve in Baiting Hollow will find it easier to navigate the preserve after a new information kiosk was installed as an Eagle Scout service project. The structure enhances wayfinding on the preserve’s mulched trails and reinforces the town’s investment in accessible open space.

Seventeen-year-old Anthony Mango of Wading River, a member of Troop 94, planned and built the kiosk as his Eagle Scout project. The work required more than 50 hours of planning, design and construction. Anthony and his father assisted with the build, and the Riverhead Town Buildings and Grounds Division handled installation. Town Board members and representatives from the town’s Open Space Committee and Recreation Committee attended the installation on Jan. 15, 2026.

The kiosk is built with 6 inch by 6 inch posts, a wood frame display, a locking plexiglass door and a shingled roof. The two main components - the posts with signboard and the roof - together weigh about 500 pounds. The design and durable materials were chosen for long-term public use and low maintenance by town crews.

The Sound Avenue Nature Preserve is a 15-acre site located just east of the Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp. The preserve offers about a mile of mulched walking trails and native shrub plantings. Riverhead Town acquired the site in 2006 using Community Preservation Funds and opened it to the public on Oct. 6, 2010. Open Space Committee Chairwoman Janis Leonti praised the project for enhancing natural spaces and strengthening community connection to preserved lands.

Beyond practical navigation, the kiosk carries public health and equity implications for Suffolk County residents. Clear signage and visible trailheads reduce barriers for residents who are less familiar with local preserves, including new families, older adults and people from neighborhoods with fewer recreational resources. Regular access to nearby green spaces supports physical activity, mental well-being and social connection, all of which contribute to health equity across the community.

The project also highlights civic engagement by young people and the role of volunteer-led projects in maintaining public amenities. Using Community Preservation Funds to acquire and maintain open space paired with grassroots efforts like this kiosk can stretch municipal resources while expanding the reach of recreational and conservation programs.

For Baiting Hollow residents, the kiosk is a small but tangible improvement to a local resource. The installation both signals ongoing stewardship of town preserves and makes it easier for neighbors to use the trails for exercise, nature study and quiet recreation. As Riverhead continues to manage and promote its open spaces, this kiosk stands as an example of how youth leadership and public investment can combine to improve community access to healthy, local green space.