Fireman’s Field gets a full makeover

The long-awaited transformation of Fireman’s Field in Oyster Bay has officially been completed, turning the largely empty parking lot into a more aesthetic, safe and environmentally friendly one. This project, with a budget of approximately $3.6 million, is intended to reinvigorate the once-neglected space into an essential center of downtown revitalization efforts.

The journey to renovate Fireman’s Field began over a decade ago when initial plans were considered but ultimately shelved. However, a recent influx of funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan breathed new life into the project, finally allowing the town to move forward with this revitalization.

Town of Oyster Bay officials took a community-centric approach to this project, consulting multiple Oyster Bay hamlet civic groups to gather feedback before moving forward with the final project design.

One of the prominent organizations at the forefront of this transformation is the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the hamlet’s historic character while enhancing its vibrancy. Meredith Maus, the association’s executive director, highlighted that plans to improve Fireman’s Field date back to the mid-1970s and have seen various engineering studies since the mid-2000s.

“I think it’s beautiful,” Maus said. “I was excited to see that they called back to earlier plans because a lot of community input was put into those.”

The improvements include adding more lighting and greenery to make the area more appealing and pedestrian-friendly. Residents and businesses in the hamlet have long expressed concerns about the lack of parking, and these enhancements aim to address this issue. Maus stressed the importance of creating a connection between the waterfront and downtown, inviting visitors to explore the area on foot.

The project also seeks to improve parking around the Oyster Bay Long Island Rail Road station. By adding up to 200 parking spaces, it aims to make the Oyster Bay line a more attractive option for commuters and travelers, potentially easing congestion on other nearby lines.

One of the most significant aspects of this project is its commitment to environmental sustainability. Historically, Fireman’s Field has suffered from drainage issues, often turning the parking lot into a temporary lake during rainstorms. Vicki Walsh, a Town of Oyster Bay councilwoman, emphasized in a statement that the renovations would address these drainage problems, thereby improving water quality and minimizing pollution and wastewater runoff, a vital concern, given the field’s proximity to the waterfront.

“We’re working towards a greener, more environmentally-friendly Fireman’s Field for local commuters and the community at large,” Walsh wrote. “This project will help revitalize the area both in terms of function and aesthetics, all at no additional cost to taxpayers.”

Dawn Riley, executive director of Oakcliff Sailing, added that with the changes to the lot more and more people will be encouraged to both use the space and walk through it.

“I actually go out of my way to drive by there now on my way to work,” Riley said. “It looks happy and cheerful and welcoming.”