By NANCY HILER
It's the holiday season, not Little League season. Still, youth baseball and the condition of the fields on which it's played are very much on the mind of Gerald Marino, current president of the North Bellmore-North Merrick Little League. He is proposing a $200,000 overhaul of the baseball fields used by the league on the property behind Saw Mill Road School in North Bellmore, as well as handicapped and wheelchair accessibility and parking.
You might call it Marino's field of dreams, but he is adamant that he can make it a reality, and at no cost to the school district that owns the property. "I can get the funding," Marino declared recently. "Local, county, state, federal, all grants, they're there."
Board reviewing proposal
Marino submitted a written proposal to school district administrators earlier this month. He said he is also sending an officer of the Little League to read a statement about the proposal publicly at the Dec. 12 board meeting, which was to take place after press time.
"We received [Marino's] request, and passed it on to the Board [of Education]," North Bellmore Superintendent of Schools Dominic Mucci said. "Truthfully, in the next couple of months, I think we will continue to concentrate our efforts on the facilities issues." He referred to ongoing brick re-pointing and roof repair work under way at Newbridge Road School, as well as capital improvements included in the EXCEL aid package that was just passed and a possible future facilities bond issue vote.
The Little League's proposal includes:
€ Synthetic turf on the infield of the north baseball field.
€ Synthetic turf on the two south T-ball fields to a radius of 60 feet.
€ A new backstop and dugout fencing at the north field.
€ Concrete dugout areas according to state requirements for wheelchair or handicap access.
€ Blacktop and fence in the parking lot on Roger Road a wheelchair accessible, full handicap parking area with concrete poles for safety.
€ Connected, concrete walkways to provide for wheelchair accessibility from the lot to the three fields and to the handicap bathrooms and the concession stand by the north field.
Synthetic turf
The proposal calls for synthetic turf, rather than clay and grass fields, Marino says, because there is no way to install an underground sprinkler system needed to maintain sod.
Recently concerns related to the impact on children's health of potential carcinogens emitted by the materials used to make synthetic turf have been reported. About this issue, Marino said, "The jury's still out,"
He addresses these concerns in his proposal to the board, stating, "It seems these possible carcinogens would be a problem after years of constant heat. It appears safety is not an issue within the first few years. I think it best for our community if we table this issue and concentrate on the other aspects until this matter is resolved."
If the plan for synthetic turf were rejected, Marino said that he would then consider installing traditional clay on the T-ball fields and grass on the north baseball field, adding that would mean overground sprinklers and require higher maintenance.
Regarding the wheelchair and handicapped access to the three fields and to the restrooms and the concession stand, Marino said he feels it is the right thing to do for the community. "I saw a couple of grandparents in wheelchairs," he recounted. "That's when the bell went off."
Moving forward
Anticipating grants to fund the proposed project, Marino also says that additional costs for maintenance and repair of the fields would be handled by the league. As far as getting the work done, Marino said, "I spoke to Chris Milano, the facilities director [of the school district], about it. I've got contractors. He's got contractors. It will probably be easier to use contractors through the school."
In actuality, school district administrators would have to be involved in any work done on the grounds, and Milano would not simply select contractors. Improvement projects of any kind on school property are subject to a cost-bidding process, state approvals, safety and other requirements.
"I could get it done in one year, but realistically it will probably take two years," Marino said of completing the project.
With repairing and maintaining aging school buildings the priority in the district these days, Mucci commented, "To give you a timeline would be premature."
Comments about this story? Contact nhiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
