Riverhead Rotary proposes peace pole for Peconic riverfront park

Riverhead Rotary presented a plan to install a roughly 7-foot "peace pole" on town-owned land, raising questions about placement, accessibility and what the symbol would mean for a diverse Suffolk County community. Rev. George Dupree brought the proposal to a Town Board work session on Jan. 8, asking the town to work with the club on siting and a dedication ceremony.

The pole would carry the phrase "May peace prevail on Earth" in four languages commonly spoken in the area: English, Spanish, Polish and Ukrainian. Suggested locations include the Peconic riverfront River Walk and other visible public gathering sites that would not be disrupted by planned downtown construction. Rotary volunteers would purchase the pole, with a lead time of about eight weeks, and coordinate with town staff on final placement.

Peace poles are civic markers meant to express a simple, multilingual wish for peace. Local Rotary involvement reflects the service club's longstanding role in sponsoring public projects meant to foster community ties. For Riverhead, the choice of languages was presented as an effort to reflect the town's linguistic mix and to signal welcome in public space.

Town Board members asked practical questions during the work session, including whether the pole could include braille to make the installation accessible to residents who are blind or have low vision. That accessibility concern underscores broader equity issues when public art and civic symbols are placed in shared spaces: who feels included, who is consulted, and whether installations reinforce — or reduce — barriers to participation.

Public health experts who study built environments say that visible signs of inclusion and opportunities for positive social interaction can support mental well-being and strengthen community resilience. For Riverhead, a modest installation on the River Walk could become a focal point for reflection, multicultural programming, or small public gatherings — provided the project is sited thoughtfully and managed to minimize conflicts with construction and waterfront use.

Next steps include finalizing a location with town staff and scheduling a dedication once the Rotary orders the pole. If ordered now, the roughly eight-week lead time means the pole could arrive in the spring, though placement depends on town approvals and logistics.

The takeaway? A simple marker can carry outsized meaning. Our two cents? If you care about how shared spaces represent Riverhead, bring accessibility and language inclusion to the table — keep an eye on upcoming Town Board sessions and talk to Riverhead Rotary so the final installation truly serves the whole community.