By:JOSEPH KELLARD
O'side, Shell Creek parks tapped for upgrades
Local residents can expect to get a slew of upgrades to their local parks, possibly as early as next spring. Renovations on the ballfield backstops at Oceanside Park and the installation of a water playground at Shell Creek in Island Park are part of an ongoing $67 million parks improvement project by the Town of Hempstead. When completed, the project will have made renovations in 60 of the town's parks.
The upgrades throughout the various parks will focus on the modernization of playgrounds, ballfields, court areas and swimming pools. Other improvements include major beach and bulkhead restoration, an upgraded golf course, 19 new playgrounds, refurbished picnic shelters and relined swimming pools.
"Fortified by our solid financial standing, the town has been able to build upon $27 million in initial improvements from 1995-2001, with a second phase of bonded improvements totaling $40 million," said Hempstead Town Supervisor Richard Guardino. "While some municipalities struggle to maintain and staff their parks, the town has been able to budget $67 million for improvements without a penny increase in general town taxes."
Presently, items targeted for these improvements are proposals and are subject to change, since the second-phase projects have yet to reach the design stage.
"While we're confident that we'll spend $40 million, as they develop and finalize the plan, there could be amendment adjustments," a town official said. "As part of the whole process of implementing the plan, consultants, engineers, architects and contractors have to be hired down the road. The town will look at a few plans and then we'll select the ones we like."
In addition to proposals to renovate its ballfield backstops, which may include replacing worn out or broken chain-linked fencing, joints and pipes, Oceanside Park will also see the refurbishment of the pool's deck and lockers and the installation of an interactive kiddy pool. Along with a new water playground, which will feature some form of water-spraying devices, Shell Creek Park on Barnum Island will also receive some bulkhead repairs.
"It's time that the bulkheading went in," a Town official said.
At Oceanside Park's pool, officials said, new materials may be installed in place of the concrete decking.
"They may come up with some new, modern material that's different than concrete. They may try to rubberize it," the official said. "It may have cracked in some areas, so that's why it needs to be done. There may have been repairs to the present decking over the years, but now they've decided that the whole area needs to be redone."
The town has 190 parks, 30 of which are major parks. The refurbishment of the 60 parks is based on a number of criteria and factors for improvement, including the natural life of certain materials, officials explained. The genesis of the various projects usually come from the town's parks commissioner or staff, or from residents in the communities who request the repairs or installation of certain items, officials added.
"For instance, the Baldwin Skate Park really came about as a result of some parents from the community saying, 'Hey, we have a lot of kids here who like to skateboard, this is something we would like to see.' So sometimes it's input from the residents, and other times its clear evidence of need, on the part of parks officials. Also, certain items only have a certain natural life. A pool only has a certain natural life, as does the concrete deck and as do the equipment in the locker rooms."
While no definitive dates have been set regarding when these renovations will take place, the town definitely plans on starting some of the them as soon as the new year begins, officials said.
"We will continue to make our parks greener, cleaner and substantially better while showing the utmost respect for our taxpayers," Guardino said.
