By Anthony Rifilato
Last week, Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) - aware that a developer may be less likely to commit to plans to revitalize Grand Avenue with the carousel included in the downtown project - said the county is eyeing Silver Lake as an alternative location. The total cost of the project could reach nearly $1 million, Scannell said.
"It would logically fit best at Silver Lake - it's more space," said Scannell, adding that he has been meeting with county officials about the issue.
Scannell estimates that the cost to restore and refurbish the carousel would be about $450,000. He explained that he would direct two years' worth of community development funds - or $425,000 - to the restoration. He also said that $25,000 raised by schools through the Pennies for Ponies campaign would also be used.
But the carousel also requires a structure to enclose it, and Scannell said he is hoping the county will pay for such a project, estimated to cost $500,000, he said. "We're there on the restoration," Scannell said. "Now I'm hoping [Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi] can put $400,000 or $500,000 toward the building."
Scannell said the structure would allow the carousel to be a "revenue-generating entity," in that it could accommodate events such as birthday parties, which in turn could offset the costs of the carousel's operation and maintenance. "It's a modest building with a room for birthday parties, and we're hoping we can generate some revenue for the taxpayers," he said. Scannell noted that if the county were to refuse the funding, he would look into alternatives in the private sector to fund the project. But, he said, "I'm optimistic that the administration will come through with the building."
Suozzi's office did not return calls for comment.
There is still the possibility, however slim, that the carousel could be included in the downtown redevelopment project for Grand Avenue. The Town of Hempstead said it is creating two requests for proposals as it reaches out to developers, one with the carousel and one without it.
Although a developer could be interested in using the carousel in the plan, town officials have said that for the most part, the carousel would most likely dissuade developers from getting involved in the project due to the amount of valuable retail space it would take up. "At this point I do agree with the town that you don't want the carousel to take away a business," said Scannell. "The whole point is to revitalize the downtown area."
Meanwhile, some schools in Baldwin and other parts of Nassau County are racing to raise $2,000 in order to restore and adopt a carousel animal as part of the Pennies for Ponies campaign, an initiative launched earlier this year to spur the restoration effort. The first 42 schools in Nassau County to raise $2,000 will name horses on the carousel.
Milburn Elementary School reached its goal in three weeks and adopted one of the historic horses, naming it Martin's Milburn Pride, after Principal Debbie Martin, who is retiring this year.
Plaza has also raised $2,000, and is in the process of picking out a horse, said Principal Charlene Maniscalco.
As county and town officials work out a location for the carousel, Maniscalco said there was some concern among parents about the project - mainly, whether a site can be agreed on and the restoration completed. "We did talk to Scannell, and he assured us that [the carousel] is coming to Baldwin," said Maniscalco. "We're just going to go ahead with it."
Some also wondered if their money was being put to good use, saying that it was premature to raise money without a definite location for the carousel or a guarantee that it will be restored in the near future. "The county has no guarantee it's going to happen," said Meadow Elementary School parent Paulette Palmer. "My main concern is that there is no plan to return the money raised if the restoration of the ponies does not happen."
But Scannell emphasized that even if the carousel is not brought to Grand Avenue, it will return to Baldwin, and if not to Silver Lake, perhaps to another suitable location. "I'm hopeful we'll start refurbishment as soon as possible," he said, adding that the restoration process would take about 18 months.
Even without a certain location at this point, Milburn Principal Debbie Martin said that her school has a special attachment to the carousel because of its proximity to the former landmark. Even if the carousel were not to return to Baldwin, Martin said, Milburn still would have been involved in the restoration effort.
"Of course we'd love to see it in Baldwin," said Martin. "But our effort really is to see that it gets restored. Nunley's was in our neighborhood, so there is an attachment here."
