By Mary Malloy and Joseph Kellard
"We think this is just a money-maker for the county, just a business enterprise," said Santino. "[They] should be putting money into this park. It's poorly maintained as it is."
David Ring, a Nassau County parks department spokesman, said that the proposal, generated by his department, is still in its very early stages. "It is under consideration ... we are just in the talking stages," Ring said. "The next step would be to put out an RFP to interested vendors."
An RFP, or Request for Proposals, describes a project in the planning stages to potential bidders. "If it goes through, there would be competitive bidding for setting up a marina in Bay Park," Ring explained. It has not yet been determined if an RFP would spell out a maximum number of boat slips.
Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) said the county is always looking for ways to bring people into its parks. "We perceived that there is a need for boat slips, and we're trying to see if there is any private entity that is willing to become a partner with us and construct and operate a marina in the park," Toback said, adding that there are several marinas in the area, one of them just north of Bay Park and another in Oceanside, at the end of Weidner Avenue, near Ocean Harbor Drive on the East Rockaway Channel.
"We think that a privately owned marina would change the character of the park, add more traffic, and it would impact the houses on Ocean Harbor Drive in Oceanside, across the canal," said Santino. "We believe it could impact their quality of life."
"I would definitely be against it," said Ron Ross, a homeowner on Ocean Harbor Drive. "... The people that bought the homes on Ocean Harbor Drive bought them to have quiet, not loud speedboats." A marina, he said, should be separate from softball and baseball fields and playgrounds.
But Oceansider Vincent Vanella is not bothered by the prospect of more moored boats across the canal from his home. "I'm indifferent, really - it doesn't affect me in any way," Vanella said.
Bay Park resident Lorraine Keegan said she uses the park often. "Even if it's not up to par, it's a nice place for people to enjoy," she said. "We have the sewage plant nearby, and people want to keep the little fresh air that they can."
Tobak met with the Bay Park Civic Association recently to discuss the proposal and any concerns residents might have. "The county has a very successful public-private partnership going at one of its parks in Freeport, and [Bay Park] is another natural place to look," he said. "We think that since we're a waterfront community, and as more and more people are looking for boating opportunities, there is a need for more places for them to operate."
Judith Caracciolo, vice president of the civic association, said its members are concerned about park security. "No one will be checking to see if these boat owners are Nassau County residents or not," she said. "Most of our homes are adjoined to the park, and we don't want to see more traffic and less security." Caracciolo said she wants Bay Park to continue to be a "nice family park."
East Rockaway Mayor Ed Sieban said that planning a marina there would be a "misdirected decision" on the part of the county. "They are not taking care of Bay Park," he said. "This is an environmentally sensitive area, and more boats could affect the crabbing and fishing, and take away a part of the bulkhead. Nassau County should put its priorities in place." Sieban, along with Santino, said he was upset that only Bay Park residents, and not residents of East Rockaway, were notified of the county's plans.
Tobak said that as the process moves along, everyone will be kept informed about what the county is looking to do. "Public input is always important in all of my decision-making processes," he said.
Mark Beja contributed to this story. Comments about it? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
