By DEBBIE ROSEN
Oceanside residents want renovations completed
When the Town of Hempstead officials announced this month that they would once again do renovations to Oceanside's Margie Street Park, residents wondered if they would ever get their park back. For the last two summers, residents have watched as their park playground equipment was torn out and the bulkhead was replaced. They watched but could not play during those summers and, when the park reopened this year, there was nothing but two old wooden seesaws to play on.
"While the park was closed for the summer, they took away the playground and gave us back nothing," said one of four teens who grew up playing at the park.
"Basically we went from little to nothing and we still can't use the basketball court," said another, pointing to the cracks covering the court's surface.
At the entrance to the park, silver paint is chipping off the fence and spots of paint line the cement walkway.
"I see they fixed the bulkhead and put down some blacktop, but it would be nice to see some monkey bars or a jungle gym," said resident Bob Winn, who bought his home because it was close to the park. "But I understand they are doing more renovations," he added.
According to the Town of Hempstead Parks Department, Margie Street Park was shut down due to the installation of a new bulkhead and the removal of swings thought to be unsafe for children to play on. The final phase of the renovation, while a long time coming, is set for the end of fall.
Playground equipment is currently on order and slated for installation before the fall of winter. A rusted bicycle rack will be replaced and the fence is being investigated for repair. Also included in the renovation of the park is an overlay of the basketball court.
The two seesaws are scheduled to be torn out and replaced by a new one. Spring animals and swings will be installed.Rubber matting will cover the ground where cement currently stands, and all park equipment will be accessible for disabled youngsters. Renovations are funded through the town's park budget.
Local resident Jodi Mensher is frustrated by the length of time the process has taken. "It was a year ago this past May when the park began to be renovated and it was closed for the summer, when the kids need it most," said Ms. Mensher. For her children, four-year-old Scott and seven-year-old Marly, the park so close to their home has been useless. "I've lived around the block from the park for the past two years. I went in there a few weeks ago and said wait a minute there's nothing here. It's been a year and a half and I thought [the town] had forgotten about it," she continued.
Ms. Mensher is cautiously optimistic about the new equipment that is on order. "If there's really equipment coming, then I'm thrilled," she said. "I just hope it's not a pipe dream."
"We're hoping to be able to install the new playground equipment before the onset of the winter," said Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino, who is running for Town of Hempstead District Four Councilman against Oceanside resident Jerry LaMonica. "But I do know it is on order and once it's in, it will be installed."
"I could call him Mr. October," Mr. LaMonica said about the councilman's timing for repairs. "As far as I know, the park's needed renovations since 1993 and [Mr.] Santino, the councilman's, been in office since then but he waits till 40 days before the election November, 2000 to do anything about it."
