Public open space that wasn't actually accessible to the public is now a thing of the past in Nassau County.

On Tuesday, Nassau Executive Laura Curran signed legislation that will re-examine the 6,000 acres of open space purchased by the county.

In 2006, Nassau purchased 3.4 acres of land at the end of Parkway Drive in Baldwin Harbor for almost $5 million and made it a preserve. It's one of the open-space purchases the county says will remain protected.

Baldwin Harbor resident Daniel Pollera says the land should be kept off-limits to the public to protect the birds and other animal life that inhabit the space.

The legislation signed Tuesday is designed to assess and decide the most appropriate way to use the open space, as well as address complaints about access to the open space and signage that some residents say results in confusion and properties hidden from the public that paid for it.

The county-owned Red Cote Preserve in Oyster Bay is 30 acres of open space. Residents say the problem is that no one knows about it and that there's no sign at the front entrance.

Within 60 days, the county promises to begin working on park signage and promotion at appropriate open-space locations.