Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

The Protectors of Pine Oak Woods is an environmental conservation advocacy group dedicated to the preservation of Staten Island’s natural resources and heritage. The organization was founded to preserve Pine Oak Woods (now known as the Clay Pit Pond State Park Preserve) on Staten Island’s south shore. In the decades since the group has successfully lobbied for the addition of thousand of acres to Staten Island’s park system, including Blue Heron Park, Kingfisher Park and the Greenbelt.

An advocate for environmental protection, John C. Rooney was an office-holder of the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, Staten Island Greenbelt Stewardship Council, Richmondtown and Clarke Avenue Civic Association, Inc., and the Joint Mid-Island Civic Associations, Inc. and wrote a column for the alternative weekly newspaper, The Staten Island Register.