Parcnassau Update 4/22/11-Bay Park, Bayswater Park, Cow Meadow et al.

Bay Park

The lease between Nassau Park and Molloy College for the Bay Park Athletic Fields is still percolating. We have referred our objections and concerns to NYS Parks on the Alienation of Parklands issue and to NIFA on the Capital Projects Bond for the, virtual, sole benefit of Molloy College. With the county floundering with its financial crises, Bay Park may not seem that important, but the crises will pass with time and we will be still left with a bad contract that adversely affects the county park users for up to 30 years.

In the same vein, Legislator Howard Kopel, 7th District (which includes Bay Park) is holding a Town Meeting on May 3rd between 7-9PM at the Island Park Library, 176 Long Beach Rod, Island Park. He expects County Executive Edward Mangano to attend. This would be a opportune time for opponents to the Bay Park lease to let these gentlemen how you feel.

Bayswater Park

Bayswater Park is small, passive neighbor park in Inwood. It has been in the county park system for years and provided green space where children, from the surrounding area, could safely romp . The county parks department maintains it, which mostly consists of mowing and trimming hedges. Suddenly the county has decided Bayswater is not a park and is proposing to sell the property to the Inwood Country Club nearby. This is obviously another alienation of parkland issue, which the county is trying sneak around. What park is next? Bayswater Park is on Bayswater Avenue, between Peppe Road and Chestnut Road and should be left for the enjoyment of the neighborhood.

Wantagh Park

First the good news. Newton Shows is back this year with their rides and attractions in Wantagh Park. WE have always supported this type of family fun in county parks. Newton Shows will be there from April 29th to May 1st. Hours will be Friday 6PM-10PM, Saturday Noon to 10PM and Sunday Noon to 6pm. Bring the family, have a picnic and enjoy the park and the rides. There is a $10 coupon available. Go to their website www.newtonshows.com for details.

Now for some Not-so-good news. The Parks Department is rapidly completing the additional 40 docks in the Wantagh Marina. Despite the concern of boaters that the additions on "B" dock could interfere with the use of the boat ramp during high use times, the county ignored the request to reduce that addition by 6 slips for safety reasons. As usual with this department, the expected income outweighed boating safety.

Boaters that want to have summer dockage in Wantagh park, should monitor the construction closely. How and when these new slips will be offered has not yet been determined and the water and electricity have not yet been addressed. In any case, be leery about being at the end of B dock.

Cow Meadow Park

Speaking of Marinas, the county has refused to renew the lease on the 30 slip Cow Meadow Marina to Robert Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy wangled this lease during the last county administration. We supported the county's decision in this matter, because we do not support Public-Private partnerships on county parklands. Invariably the private operators make money and the public be damned. The county is still accepting dock fees for these slips. In any case, after Mr. Kennedy learned he was out he went and ripped out the water and electrical service to the slips.

Mr. Kennedy should be held accountable for this vandalism. Once installed those utilities should have become the property of the county. The destruction should be a violation of law. There is no evidence the county is going to follow this up. Meanwhile Mr. Kennedy has wangled the management of the new Freeport Marina at the foot of Woodcleft Avenue from the town.
What's the old saying? No bad deed goes unrewarded? Something like that.