Athletic complex renovations near completion as Prop 1 work begins

Malverne Mules football coach Kito Lockwood is optimistic that his team will get to play Valley Stream North on its new artificial turf field this coming Saturday. Lockwood couldn’t say with certainty that the field would be ready for use by then, but he has been assured by Malverne school district officials that the wait would be worth it.

The new field is part of the $14.1 million bond taxpayers approved in November — a bond that was presented to the community as two separate propositions: Proposition 1, a $9.9 million bond for the elementary schools, and Proposition 2, a $4.2 million bond for the athletic facilities. While Prop 1 work has only just begun, renovations associated with Prop 2 are completed or nearing completion.

In a presentation made before the Malverne Board of Education at its Sept. 13 meeting, Elite Construction of NY, which was chosen to the lead the construction of Prop 2, reported that all asbestos abatement in both the high and middle schools was finished, bathroom walls were waterproofed and masonry, plumbing and tile work were completed. A temporary fence was installed to safeguard the high school field, and piping and drainage work was done under the track, said Elite CEO Michael Reed.

As of press time, all that was left to do on the football field was paint yard and sideline markers, according to Lockwood. Any remaining work on Prop 2 was expected to finished by November.

The district began working on Prop 1, known as the facilities bond, on Sept. 13. That work includes a 4,795-square-foot addition to the Maurice W. Downing Primary School building, which would also get a roof replacement, cafeteria renovations, kitchen and ADA upgrades, exterior door replacements and more, at a cost of about $3.75 million. The Davison Avenue Intermediate School would get a 9,908-square-foot building addition, a science lab classroom, an instrumental music practice space, exterior wall repairs and more, at a cost of about $6.1 million.

The facilities bond work is expected to be completed in August 2012.

Stay with the Herald for updates as the projects are developed.