Construction continues at Bay Park

Fences still surround much of the west side of Bay Park, closing off the park’s amenities to residents, but Nassau County Spokesman Mike Martino said that construction at the park is on schedule, and should be fully completed by the Spring of 2015.

“Listen, none of us want this,” said Nassau County deputy Executive Rob Walker at the press conference announcing the construction, which seeks to help repair damage done two years ago in Hurricane Sandy. “We didn’t want Sandy, and we don’t want to have to be doing this but we are ... and we’re going to do it the best way we can.”

Portions of Bay Park have been closed to residents since July, when the County announced the closings with less than 24 hours notice to residents at a press conference in the park. The west side of the park, which contains a roller rink and playground, remains open, as does the south side, which offers a boat launch and various picnic areas.

The east side, which contains athletic fields, tennis courts, a dog run, and a golf course, remains closed and will be so until spring. Martino said that as of now, there are no plans to close areas of the park that are currently open to visitors.

Bay Park has been partially closed due to construction being done on the park and on the nearby sewage treatment plant, both of which were badly damaged in Hurricane Sandy. At the press conference in July announcing the construction Martino said that the project would be “one of the greatest things that Nassau County has done,” and said that the construction would “transform the community.

The renovations to the park will include new artificial-turf ball fields that will be built on higher ground to help prevent future flood damage. New tennis courts, a new dog run and a new administration building will also be completed. There will be improved access to the bulkhead along the East Rockaway Channel, and the road running to the canal will be moved inland, closer to the plant on the opposite side of the ballfields.

Also planned part of the construction are updates to the near-by sewage treatment plant. They will include a combination earthen berm and concrete wall around the plant, as well as an 8-foot decorative wall along its south side.