Money for Baldwin in Nassau County's $166M capital plan

Local residents will see several revitalization projects unfolding in the near future, as the Nassau County Legislature came to terms on a $166 million Capital Improvement Project Plan last week.

County Executive Ed Mangano said the bipartisan agreement, penned April 9, will help improve Nassau's economy, infrastructure and job market.

"This plan creates jobs and opportunities today and improves Nassau County's services and public safety," Mangano said.

The capital plan — which budgets $18.5 million for county parks and $31 million for road and traffic improvements — includes funding for projects slated for the Baldwin area, which will be overseen by Nassau County legislators Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin), and Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead).

Scannell's budget includes streetscape improvements on Grand Avenue in Baldwin and North Main Street in Freeport; renovating the Nassau County Police Department pistol range, which is on the Baldwin-South Hempstead border; and traffic modifications at Ocean Avenue and Merrick Road.

Also, Scannell said that he has assurances from Mangano that Scannell will remain involved in future talks on a new 1st Police Precinct. (Mangano is trying to void the lease arrangement that was approved late last year by Democratic lawmakers, claiming it is a bad deal for the county.)

Scannell will also partner with Abrahams on refurbishing curbs in South Hempstead and repaving the streets on Long Beach Road in Oceanside.

"We are proud to have completed a capital plan for Nassau County that will inject money into the local economy and create jobs for our residents," Scannell said. "As part of the agreement, the County Executive has assured me that I will continue to play a major role in the building of a new home for the First Precinct and that it will remain in Baldwin."

Other major projects in the capital plan,
courtesy of the county executive's office:

— Over $18.5 million in park maintenance and improvements
— $7 million for new 911 call center
— $31 million in road and traffic improvements
— More than $5 million for a county-wide green energy initiative
— $550,000 for the Nassau County Fire Service Academy