Merrick's historic Tiny Town to get face-lift

Two years after the Town of Hempstead completed the initial phase of a roadway rehabilitation project in the Tiny Town neighborhood of North Merrick, a contractor is set to begin work on the second and final phase of the project in the first week of August.

Tiny Town, also known as the Campgrounds, comprises a handful of residential blocks in North Merrick. The area features circular streets and small cottages, holdovers from annual Methodist camp meetings at the site in the 1800s.

The Town of Hempstead awarded a $750,000 contract in June to Westbury-based Roadwork Ahead to carry out improvement work on Fisk, Abbott, Central, Fletcher and Wesley avenues in Tiny Town. Roadwork Ahead will repave asphalt, restore disturbed grass areas, improve the working of storm drains, and install new curbs, driveway aprons and pedestrian access ramps, according to a town press release. The work is slated for completion by October.

Other Tiny Town streets, such as Hedding, Thomas and Waugh avenues, were not mentioned in the town’s release.

John Golden, a Tiny Town resident, said he was pleased that the roads will be repaved, but he worries that water drainage issues may not be properly addressed.

“The corner next to my house has the worst flooding in the neighborhood,” Golden said. “I said they need to dig the catch basin there deeper, but [the town is] going to get rid of the catch basin. Their excuse is that the basins aren’t connected and up to code. Well, this area has never had proper sewer drain connections, so why don’t you go with the best possible alternative. You can dig a deeper hole, and it would help with the flooding.”

Golden also expressed concern that workers would rush to complete the project before cold weather sets in and perform shoddy work in the process.

“Two years ago they came in at the end of June and said we have to get the work done before the weather gets cold, but this time they’re not beginning until August,” Golden said.