Town Board Listens to Residents Opposed to Sports Park Lights


Glendora Parks -- Sports Parks and Neighborhood Relations
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This week, however, the issue was resurrected when a petition in opposition to the plan was submitted to Town Councilman Michael Fitzpatrick by Daniel Rooney, a homeowner living across the street from Gaynor Park. The petition, which is signed by 14 homeowners living around the park, says that they are "strongly opposed" to the Gaynor Park plan because it will be a "detriment to the tranquillity... and general quality of life" in the neighborhood.

Mr. Fitzpatrick said that he met this week with Mr. Rooney and that in addition to submitting the petition he expressed anger at the survey of residents conducted by Mr. Misa, claiming that the Town's plan was not properly articulated. Mr. Fitzpatrick called Mr. Misa back to the Town Board work session this week to discuss the petition and Mr. Rooney's claims.

Mr. Misa first asked that the situation be discussed in a closed door executive session but the Town Board refused and held the discussion in public. Mr. Misa then said that he was "chagrined and appalled" at Mr. Rooney's allegations. Mr. Misa provided the Town Board with copies of the survey questionnaires he used and reiterated his position that he feels there is general support in the neighborhood for nighttime play.

Mr. Misa told the Town Board that night play at Gaynor Park will be undertaken with some new restrictions on an experimental basis. The restrictions are that play will only be on four nights, that the lights will go off at 10:15 p.m. and that the park will have to be cleared by 10:30 p.m. and that only the older league with players over 40 will be scheduled to play at Gaynor.

"I gave the Town Board my assurance last week that I will personally pull the plug myself and refund all of the money if we don't receive cooperation from the teams," Mr. Misa said. "I think that it is doable."

"Sure it is doable for the leagues but it is not doable if you live next to that park and are concerned about your qualify of life," replied Supervisor Vecchio.

Councilman Fitzpatrick said that during his meeting with Mr. Rooney he explained some of the controls that will be imposed and efforts made to mitigate any noise or nuisance problems in the neighborhood.

Last year, the Town had considered building a new park with lighted ball fields on land it owns at Old Commack Road and Scholar Lane in Commack but, according to Councilman Fitzpatrick, that plan is not being advanced. Councilman Fitzpatrick said that establishing new fields on pristine property at the Commack site would cost several hundred thousand dollars, which the Town Board has not allocated. He said, too, that even if the money were allocated, the fields would not be ready in time for this season.

Councilman Fitzpatrick said that the Gaynor Park scenario is a stopgap measure and that the Town still has to address long term recreational needs.

Councilman Eugene Cannataro said that the problem has long been that people continue to demand new recreational facilities but as soon as ball fields with lights are proposed the neighbors in the area protest. "The problem is coming up with sites for the fields. Nobody wants the lights," Councilman Cannataro said.

Councilman Michael Hollander said that he feels the Town should take action to provide additional fields to meet the needs of the community instead of cutting the teams. He proposed that Brown's park in Nesconset be considered and said that new technology lighting may be considered to mitigate residents' concerns. He said that the Town should not be intimidated by a NIMBY (not in my backyard) mentality.

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