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Miniature golf approved for Hendrickson Park
      Golf balls will be rolling along manicured miniature greens in Hendrickson Park by fall, now that village officials have given the nod to Keith Miller Golf, Inc. to build the recreational facility.
      After public comments that split about evenly against and for the plan, the board of trustees voted unanimously Monday night to contract with the professional miniature golf company to construct and manage an 18-hole course on what is now an asphalt slab behind the village pool.
      Only Valley Stream and Central High School District residents and their guests and established Valley Stream organizations may use the golf course or its accessory building. Residents may bring as many as three guests to the golf course, according to contract documents.
      The total cost of construction, estimated at $350,000, will be borne by Keith Miller Golf Inc.
      The village will receive a minimum rent of $5,000 a year for the first three years and revenue shares of from 5 to 30 percent based on sales.
      Minimum rental compensation to the village is scheduled to escalate in succeeding years according to the contract, yielding an estimated minimum income in rent alone of $61,500 after 10 years and as much as $197,000 after 20 years. Revenue sharing is expected to substantially increase that figure.
      The 140 by 140 foot, nearly 16,000 square-foot course will be open daily year-round, weather permitting. In the summer, the course will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and will close at dark the rest of the year.
      Golfing fees for adults will be $7, and $6 for seniors and children under 12. Group fees of $15 will be charged for birthday parties for residents' children and their guests.
      KMG Inc. will be responsible for the facility's cleanliness and putting trash in black plastic bags, which the village will pick up.
      Certificates of insurance must be provided to the village, naming the village, all elected and appointed officials, employees and volunteers included as additional insureds.
      The July 16 contract between the village and the golfing company calls for "management and staff to be professional, well groomed, courteous and must wear a standard dress code that identifies them to the public."
      The contract runs for 15 years and the Keith Miller Golf, Inc. has the option to renew the agreement for an additional five years.
      While an autumn opening day is planned, the company may decide to postpone operations until spring if for any reason construction doesn't start soon.
      Approximately 140 residents attended Monday night's village board meeting at which the mini-golf plan was unanimously approved by Mayor Edward W. Cahill, Deputy Mayor Guido Cirenza and trustees Joseph Zabatta, Joanne Antun and Richard Coffman.
      About 22 people spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting before the vote. There were questions about parking, increased activity in the park, the wisdom of letting an outside company run the golf facility, security, resident-use-only restrictions, environmental impact, closing times and supervision. Some wished there had been a public vote on the matter, and one questioned the authority of the board to act.

A place to go
      Angela Bosca said she thought it was a great idea for children and the elderly. "They'll have a place to go. It's not costing the people of the village anything and it's definitely a plus for the village," she said.
      A woman in her 20s said she was "disappointed in the lack of support for this. I just feel it would be nice to have something here for young people to stay here. I don't see people as open to this as they should be." She said that others her age may soon be deciding whether to remain Valley Stream residents or go elsewhere, and the more recreational activities available, the more apt people would be to stay. "It's good that the village has done this; it's a great idea."
      Forty-one year resident Ralph Polverino said he thinks it's a "good idea for the children, everybody. They say kids get in trouble, but they have no place to go. This is a place for them to go. And it'll be good for the seniors, too."
      Tim McGrath said he is a strong supporter of the mini-golf course. "Hendrickson Park is a village treasure. [The course will cost] not one tax dollar and [will create] a stream of revenue to the village. As the son of a former congressman [Ray McGrath], I know all too well that elected officials get unfairly criticized. I am here to say thank you for enhancing the lives of the people and the children of the village."

Two distinct uses
      But while the board was unanimous in its decision, those who came to the meeting weren't at all of one mind.
      Bill Freda objected to the board voting on this or any other issue. Citing a procedure instituted by a former mayor, and rules of order, Freda said that because the board failed to post a notice five days in advance about what issues would be decided, it was not allowed to pass resolutions. "The board is now operating arbitrarily.... You may discuss it if you want," but the board has no authority to pass anything, he said.
      Freda also said there ought to be a referendum on the subject. He said "there are two distinct uses here [a mini-golf course and what he called a catering hall] and it's not for the board of trustees to decide but the zoning board." He said he objects to the plan because Hendrickson Park's deed says it can't be used except for recreational purposes so the board has no authority to allow a "catering facility."
      He said village zoning codes prohibit "letting a non-governmental agency run a recreational activity," that the village is putting it in a flood zone, and that the "catering hall" will subsidize the golf course.
      "I am against the commercialization of Hendrickson Park," Freda said.
      Village officials responded that it was not necessary for the village to seek zoning board approval for village projects. The village attorney said that the state open government laws would be adhered to. The course is not in a flood zone, Village Clerk Ang replied, and the clubhouse is not a catering hall.
      A woman said that the mini-golf course should not be seen as "the quintessential embodiment of recreation in Valley Stream." The village should have given the residents other options, she said, and asked why residents couldn't vote on this.
      Carol Hawkins said that a "good leader is a visionary," and wanted to "commend the mayor and the board on your vision." Nevertheless, she said that though this board may mean it when it says the golf course will not be open to non-residents, she wondered about future boards and future mayors.
      "And once you open this up you'll see archery and go-carts; the park will change its whole character."
      Hawkins urged the board to "keep the park the way it is and find another location" for the mini-golf course.
      Dan Schroder, 13, asked why the board was going to vote on the golf course "without asking the people what they want." He said the golfing fee was too high and that he'd rather have a skate park. Trustee Coffman responded that development of the mini-golf course does not preclude or replace any other recreational activities. Indeed, he said, the village is already planning other projects. The mayor said a location was being sought for a skating or skateboarding park.
      A young girl said that she and her friends were worried about whether the course would limit their bike-riding space. "We want the park the way it is," she said. The mayor assured her that her bicycling would not be impeded.
      A woman said some children don't have identification, so how could the village enforce its intention to restrict golf play to residents? She also wanted stricter enforcement of parking regulations. Village attorney McKenna said a $4 park pass or a pool pass could be used as ID. If a resident had neither, a driver license or photo ID with address would be acceptable. Details concerning ID for children under 12 have yet to be determined, McKenna said.
      Tom O'Neil wanted to know why an environmental impact statement was not prepared on the project. He said village officials were not obeying State Environmental Quality Review Act regulations, a charge the board denied. Village attorney Mike McKenna said the construction of a mini-golf course and the area it takes up does not require an impact statement.
      Harriet Levine said that the mini-golf course "is not going to enhance the values of people's homes." She said that the village "is in dire need of repair. The roads, the streets are badly in need of repair.... Take care of Valley Stream," she told the board. "Do what's important, the bread and butter issues. Do what's right for the community."
      Coffman responded that "you are seeing the beginning of a recreation program with this, and the biggest road construction project you have ever seen."
      Coffman was referring to a planned street repair and road renewal project planned to start in late August or early September.
      Levine said, "you are going to disturb the peace and quiet of people living near the area. "
      Joseph Locoteta, president of the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol, said that while not opposed to the mini-golf course, he doesn't think it should be run by an outside company. If the village built and operated it, he said, the village would reap all the profits and could charge less to play.
      Trustee Antun said that it isn't a good idea for village government to get into the miniature golf business and it is better to let professionals in the business manage such an enterprise.

Melissa O'Hara contributed to this story