1653 Foundation

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1653 Foundation

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from 1653 Foundation, Nonprofit Organization, 223 Wall Street, Suite 354, Huntington, NY.

The mission of 1653 Foundation is to restore, manage, and enhance the parklands and public spaces of the Town of Huntington through collaboration with Town government, various committees, partner organizations and other influencers.

08/26/2026

As part of our deep commitment to Huntington’s maritime environment, we worked with our environmental partner RELIC and funded the installation of “clean up the beach” baskets at West Neck, Gold Star, Centerport and Hobart Beaches on August 25th.

West Neck Beach photos:
Don Tesoriero, 1653 Foundation Executive Director; Aiden Kravitz and Edward Ford, RELIC; Garrett Chelius, 1653 Foundation Advisor and Director of Maritime Services, Town of Huntington; Nick Aronov, Town of Huntington; and Jen Hebert, Councilwoman, Town of Huntington

Gold Star Beach photo:
Aiden Kravitz, RELIC; Don Tesoriero, 1653 Foundation Executive Director; Edward Ford, RELIC; Tracey Affatato, Legislative Aide to Brooke Lupinacci, Councilwoman, Town of Huntington; Cable Todd Jamison, Director, Parks and Recreation, Town of Huntington; Garrett Chelius, 1653 Foundation Advisor and Director of Maritime Services, Town of Huntington.

08/20/2026

John Turner, Seatuck Senior Conservation Advocate, had some incredible words on our ongoing wildlife work.

John’s full quote below from a July 30th article in The Observer. We are so grateful for the support.

“Many ecological connectivity projects relate to fixing one barrier found to impede the movement of one or a few species of wildlife. In contrast, the proposed connectivity project situated at the southern end of the Crab Meadow watershed involves the siting and construction of a wildlife tunnel under Waterside Avenue and new culverts under Waterside Avenue, Seaside Court, and in energy utility and parkland properties. Thus, it is the most significant ecological connectivity project ever envisioned for, and undertaken on, Long Island since not only will the initiative remove nearly half a dozen barriers hampering the movement of wildlife, it will simultaneously help several species of wildlife including river otters, several species of turtles (painted and snapping turtles), and migratory fish (American eel and river herring).”

08/14/2026

Extra Extra!

Thank you to the Northport Observer for the feature story on the ongoing work we have been putting into the feasibility study for wildlife-safe passageways.

Please visit 1653foundation.org to learn more about our plan advancements to protect Fuchs Pond wildlife and to get involved.

08/12/2026

New collaboration with the Huntington Historical Society is coming together! We visited their offices in the historic trade school building to finalize lesson plans for a Fall program launch!

Matthew Racanello,1653 Foundation volunteer and Kaitlin Mayo, Huntington Historical Society Education Director

Photo credit: Don Tesoriero

08/07/2026

Every week the Rotary Environmental Action Coalition (REACH) powered by volunteers work on the Oyster Reef Project.

In two seasons, we’ve grown approximately 390,000 OYSTERS and planted over 300 cu.ft of NEW OYSTER REEF in our local embayments. Year to year survivorship rates on our Rotary Reefs have been very encouraging.

Head over to www.1653foundation.org www.theoysterreefproject.org to learn more about the project or to be a part of the team at any of the remaining scheduled dock work!

07/21/2026

Our Chairperson Robert Bontempi and our Executive Director Don Tesoriero now serve as President and Vice President of REACH, The Rotary Environmental Action Coalition of Huntington. The leadership integration allows the 1653 Foundation and REACH to align funding, volunteer bases, sponsor networks, and Town Hall partnerships — enabling resources to flow naturally between harbor habitat restoration and land-based public-space stewardship.

📸 Standing L-R: Garrett Chelius, Director, Department of Maritime Services, Town of Huntington; Lorne Brousseau, Associate Marine Program Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County; Shane Rogers, REACH Treasurer; Robert Bontempi, REACH President; Don Tesorier, REACH Vice President; Brian Yudewitz, Treasurer,1653 Foundation; Helena Rogers, Volunteer; Seated L-R: Melissa Brousseau; Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, 18th L.D.; Kathryn Tesoriero

07/04/2026

Two hundred and fifty years on, we enjoy the fireworks and don’t think too deeply about why these historical markers stand where they do. War crimes were also part of the birth of the United States. This plaque on 25A, near Huntington’s Old Burying Ground, marks one – the desecration of the Town graveyard by the occupying British forces. Huntington suffered greatly at their hands for seven long years, even after their general surrendered at Yorktown in 1781. In 1782, the vengeful local British tore down the church across the street and forced Huntington residents to use those materials to build a new fort directly on the graves of the Town’s ancestors, dislodging tombstones for use in their bread ovens. But the Patriots prevailed and the British fled to England in 1783. At the 1653 Foundation, we know that freedom was never free and we honor those who came before for their courage and sacrifice.

06/16/2026

We’re here, there, and everywhere in the Town of Huntington!

Check out 1653foundation.org to learn about our organization, leadership, projects we are working on, volunteer info and how you can support our mission!

06/02/2026

May was a busy month for 1653 Foundation! Our board and volunteers believe in our Huntington community and support when and where we can.

Some of our May happenings include:

• The Huntington African American Museum exhibition at Kasher Gallery in Northport

• Cody James live painting at The Artery Huntington during the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce PUBlic Art crawl

• Vending at the Huntington Waterfront Festival with REACH Rotary Club

• Enjoying and Researching at Veterans and Elliston Park

• Adding another 18 Crepe Myrtle’s to Breezy Park thanks to an anonymous donation through 1653.

Head to www.1653foundation.org to learn in more details the projects we are working on, support and how to be get involved!

05/05/2026

We at the 1653 Foundation are looking to introduce natural solutions to remedy fouled shoreline environments near our projects; we have come to deeply respect the power of the oyster.

Forget pearls - these local mollusk, neighbors of our can filter 50 gallons of water per day, like natural super water filters. In our Halesite Park remediation effort, oysters will play a major role.

In this long-neglected park, our work starts on dry land but will extend below the water line to the living shoreline and oyster reef we plan to build. So the 1653 Foundation Halesite Park effort will not only brighten the physical land with the obvious change but also improve the water quality in the nearby harbor area.

Read full the piece in the April 2026 Huntington Village Life written by our Executive Director, Don Tesoriero.

Photo provided by REACH Rotary Club, the Rotary Environmental Action Coalition of Huntington

Address

223 Wall Street, Suite 354
Huntington, NY
11743

Website

https://1653foundation.org/

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