By Anthony Rifilato
Kirsch's family is very sentimental about the images and they bring back fond memories. A lifelong Baldwin resident, Kirsch, 53, said he remembers when he used to go to Nunley's as a boy. "I used to grab three rings at a time," he said, explaining how he would lean from the carousel pony to grab for the ride's brass rings. "We were very fortunate to have it. It's a historic piece of Americana." Kirsch pointed out the reverberating sound of the carousel's Wurlitzer 153 organ, which could be easily be heard over the crowd. "It's loud," he said. "When you were at Nunley's, that was the soundtrack to the whole day."
So it came as a surprise to Kirsch and others who live along Silver Lake Park when they learned that Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) was spearheading efforts to return the carousel to Baldwin -- and seriously considering Silver Lake - in what Scannell said would be a major boon for the area's downtown. "We're still committed to returning the carousel to Baldwin, to bringing this historic landmark home and giving an important shot to our business district," Scannell said. Next month, he explained, the county will put out a request for proposals for the carousel's restoration, a process that is expected to take 18 months and cost $450,000. Scannell also said that he will use $430,000 in community development funds, while County Executive Tom Suozzi has said that he will allocate money as well, since a structure that would house the carousel is expected to cost an additional $500,000 to $1 million.
Scannell is looking to put the carousel in one of three places in Baldwin: Silver Lake, Milburn Pond or Lofts Pond. This would allow the ride to be close to a planned Town of Hempstead redevelopment project for Grand Avenue and Merrick Road, Scannell said, if proposals to include the carousel in that project fall through.
"We want to hook it into the Town of Hempstead revitalization plan," said Scannell. "That's the whole idea, because Silver Lake is one block south of that project and Lofts two blocks to the east."
But Kirsch, neighbors and others said they do not want to lose a substantial amount of the open space they enjoy at the park, and Kirsch said he is not just concerned about the noise, traffic and quality-of-life issues the carousel could bring with it. He and his neighbors said that relocating the carousel to Silver Lake or to one of the other ponds is a bad move. Although they want the carousel restored and functional, they are at odds with Scannell's proposal, mainly because of what they said is a lack of space at the ponds and their contention that the carousel could not sustain itself as a stand-alone attraction.
"We love this carousel, but because you love it, you want to see the best thing for that carousel," Kirsch said. He said he believes that because of the ride's age, it would have to be professionally maintained and staffed, which he said has not been adequately addressed, and would be better off in a museum. "I think [Scannell] is doing a great job, and I'm behind the redevelopment program," Kirsch said, "but I don't think this needs to be a part of it. We just don't see eye to eye on the carousel."
Reaching for the brass rings
On July 10, the Nassau County Legislature heard from a number of residents, children and community groups who spoke both for and against the carousel's return to Baldwin. Some, such as Beth Obergh, a Merrick resident and president of Pennies for Ponies, a non-profit that has been raising money to have the carousel ponies restored, argued that the merry-go-round would be better situated at Mitchel Field, where it is currently awaiting restoration. The location is ideal, said Obergh, because it is next to the Long Island Children's Museum, would be more accessible to county residents and could have more amenities such as food, ample parking and other activities for children.
"If you put a carousel in a park, you consistently lose revenue," Obergh told the Legislature, explaining that as a stand-alone attraction, the carousel would not succeed or attract people from other parts of Long Island. She also said that issues such as parking, maintenance and staff need to be addressed in Baldwin, something, she said, Scannell has yet to do. "[The carousel] needs to be in a place that is safe and secure," Obergh said.
But a number of Baldwin residents and their children told legislators that an important piece of history needed to be returned to its former home, and Scannell said he has received strong support from the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, among other groups.
"We'd like to see it stay here," said Brendan Earls, a member of Friends of Baldwin's Carousel, a nascent non-profit group working to raise money to return the ride to Baldwin. "We're prepared to keep the carousel in Baldwin."
Jackie Bell, president of the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, recalled the fond memories she had of her children going to Nunley's, and told legislators that the carousel should return to Baldwin, and could help buck the trend of Baldwin turning into a "fast-food town." "I now want to see my grandkids enjoy that kind of experience," said Bell.
Baldwin resident Steve Sciortino told legislators that the carousel would benefit the community. "This would be a very positive shot in the arm for Baldwin," Sciortino said.
Scannell said that he has strong support from his fellow legislators, and was surprised by Obergh's comments, saying that he was "crystal clear" about bringing the carousel back to Baldwin when he spoke with her in the past. "It's very disappointing that in the bottom of the ninth here, she's come out so publicly against Baldwin," Scannell said. "It was clear we wanted to bring it to the Baldwin downtown area. All the concerns she has are a part of everything we're looking into."
Pennies for Ponies has already raised $20,000 at 10 Long Island schools, including Milburn and Meadow schools in Baldwin, according to Obergh, who said that she told Scannell she had concerns about returning the carousel to one of the ponds. "What is the plan?" Obergh asked after the meeting. "Nothing is official. We need a backup plan. We haven't heard anything concrete and we're worried, especially since I'm raising money from all over the country."
Obergh said that if the county ultimately decides that one of the three sites is suitable, she would still donate the money that has been raised. "I want to work with Scannell," she said. "If the Legislature votes that it should go to Baldwin, it goes to Baldwin. But it doesn't make sense that they're only looking at it going to Baldwin."
Baldwin is the only place Scannell feels that the carousel should be, he said. "Nunley's is coming home," he said. "The county executive has left the decision of the location up to me, and it's coming home to Baldwin. I appreciate [Obergh's] opinion, but it's not going to the Cradle of Aviation."
Scannell said that there is enough space at the proposed sites, and that issues such as parking, safety and traffic would be addressed. He also said he is confident that the carousel would be a success as an individual attraction. "I do believe that if it is close to our downtown area, it could be a successful stand-alone attraction," Scannell said. "Hundreds of people I spoke to can't wait to bring their kids and grandkids."
When it comes to residents who live next to Silver Lake, Scannell said they are looking to move the carousel farthest away from residents, possibly near the veteran's memorial, though they have not settled on one of the three sites. "We're not looking to ruin anyone's lives," Scannell said. "With Silver Lake, the idea would be to minimize the impact that it would have on residents. It's as far away from their street as possible but as close to the downtown project as possible. But we haven't settled on Silver Lake, and we're still considering Lofts and Milburn, too."
Like Obergh, Kirsch said that the carousel would be ideal at Mitchel Field, next to the Children's Museum, or at Eisenhower Park. "I just don't see how it can physically fit at Silver Lake," said Kirsch, adding that because the carousel is 80 feet in diameter, it is too large to house there. "When you look at carousels around the country -- there's a similar one at Central Park - they're in large parks with expanded facilities and attractions, with parking, restrooms and restaurants. This is irresponsible and shortsighted."
Kirsch and his neighbors said they are not completely opposed to returning the carousel to Baldwin, and said they believe that there are better locations, such as Baldwin Park, that have enough space to accommodate visitors. These issues, he said, were not addressed by legislators who voiced their support for Scannell's plan at the July 10 meeting.
"I was surprised and disappointed that no discussion followed the presentation by Pennies for Ponies about what the ultimate destination for this is," said Kirsch. "We can't even conceive of the fact that [Scannell] is considering doing this."
Baldwin resident Eddie Callaghan, whose daughter Allyson, a Plaza student who has been raising money for Pennies for Ponies, said that while his kids want to see the carousel come back to Baldwin, mostly they would like to see it restored first. "I'd love to see it in Baldwin because I live here, but more importantly, I'd like to see it get done so parents and kids can enjoy it," Callaghan said.
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