By NANCY HILER
Town Supervisor Kate Murray presided over a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the field on June 14. Town Clerk Mark Bonilla, Councilman Gary Hudes and Councilwoman Angie Cullen also attended, joined by league officials and coaches and many players. The land is owned by the Town of Hempstead.
"After watching seniors walk and struggle to watch their grandchildren play, I thought we could help," said Jerry Marino, president of the Little League, explaining how the idea first came about. He added that the field was designed so that players with disabilities would be able to use it. "I believe it to be the first of its kind in Long Island," he said.
"To make this happen, I needed a lot of help," Marino acknowledged. And a lot of help is exactly what he received.
Town paves the way
The town installed a new parking lot about a year ago, the first step in the improvement project, completed with Murray's support and with help from Town Parks and Recreation Commissioner Joseph Bentivegna. Then, last month, the town topped off the project by paving all the walkways throughout the site.
Also on the drawing board were plans for a synthetic-turf baseball field to replace an overused, rundown natural-grass field, a disability-adaptive bathroom and a concession stand, as well as a design for making the entire site handicapped-accessible, including ramps for wheelchair to the asphalt walkways connecting the parking lot to the field and other areas.
State grants and other funding
State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican who represents the Bellmore-Merricak area, secured a $25,000 state grant; Sen. Kemp Hannon, a Republican who represents East Meadow-Levittown, added a $12,500 grant; and Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, a Republican representing the Bellmore-East Meadow area, came up with a $7,500 grant.
Community members also stepped up to help, including parents of the youngsters who use the field. Residents took part in a number of league-sponsored fundraisers, including a raffle for a Long Island Ducks luxury box.
Turf costs trimmed
A local Long Island business helped with the field. The synthetic turf installation alone was an expensive proposition at first, with early estimates of more than $200,000, Marino said. But the Amityville-based LandTek Group, spearheaded by the company's sales and marketing director, Marty Lyons, a former All-Pro tackle for the Jets, stepped up. The LandTek Group's athletic division has built many playing fields and golf courses in the Northeast, including the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey, and more recently an NCAA Division I baseball field at Hofstra University and a lacrosse field at St. John's University.
"After negotiating, [Lyons] realized what we were trying to do. He pretty much installed the turf at cost" -- about $60,000, Marino said. "It was a great gesture." Lyons is no stranger to helping youngsters. He founded the Marty Lyons Foundation in 1982, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illness.
On deck
The Little League has another "field of dreams" in the works. The groundbreaking for that will take place in the fall, Marino said. The event will be hosted by Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, a Democrat who represents the Bellmore-Merrick area. Denenberg secured a $30,000 grant for the North Bellmore Elementary School District to refurbish the Little League fields at Saw Mill Road Elementary School. "We already completed new fencing for two fields," Marino said.
Comments about this story? NHiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 234.
