A new Hub connection

Nassau County officials have unveiled two alternative modes of transportation for
residents that would connect them to key Hub areas, including Eisenhower Park, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Mitchell Park and Hofstra University:

Biking and walking.

Construction has begun on a new two-way shared path that would accommodate bikers and pedestrians, and link them around Eisenhower Park to Hempstead Turnpike near the Coliseum and Hofstra.

The $5 million plan is funded with $2.5 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As the Herald reported in September, Gov. David Paterson announced that the state would allot some of its federal stimulus funds toward a shared path project in Nassau County.

Officials said the county’s capital funds would foot the remainder of the bill.

This project also includes the beautification of the Hempstead Plains, at the intersection of Old County Road and Merrick Avenue, and the park along Merrick Avenue.

Replacing chain-linked fences along the Plains and Eisenhower Park on Merrick Avenue will be new, wooden split rail fences. The new fencing would open up that area of the Plains to the public for the first time.

“This is one of the busiest intersections,” said County Executive Tom Suozzi, who announced the plans on Tuesday. “We want people driving by to see what a wonderful piece of property this is.”

“People can go place-to-place without taking their lives into their own hands by crossing the busy intersections,” he added.

There will be three phases of the project, officials said, which are expected to be completed by 2010. According to a rendering, a path would also be constructed along Eisenhower Park on Salisbury Park Drive.

County officials aim for a path connection between the Hub, Museum Row, Eisenhower Park, Cedar Creek Park and Jones Beach State Park.

Plans also call for the reconstruction of paths along Charles Lindbergh, Earle Ovington and James Doolittle Boulevards, behind the Coliseum. Those paths would operate along existing roads, and would not be impacted if the Lighthouse project is approved, a county official said.