North Hempstead 5-Year Capital Plan Approved: Here's What's In It

NORTH HEMPSTEAD, NY — North Hempstead town officials have signed off on a five-year capital plan, which includes more than $55 million in improvements.

Among the projects highlighted: engineering services for the first phase of the North Hempstead Beach Park visioning project, site improvements for the Sept. 11 memorial at Manhasset Valley Park and a pool renovation project at Martin "Bunky" Reid Park.

The town said it will fund the 2020 portion of the general fund's capital improvements using $9.5 million dollars in bond authorizations after accounting for grants and existing money.

Included in the capital plan is $7.6 million in grants. Federal emergency management officials have pledged about $33.5 million for various projects as well.

More than $4 million will go toward road repaving in both residential and industrial areas. The town set $1 million will go toward sidewalk improvements and another $1 million will fund concrete roadwork. Furthermore, $400,000 will go toward road drainage.

Judi Bosworth, the town supervisor, said the capital plan may not include flashy improvement projects, but noted that"as any homeowner knows, most maintenance projects are not glamorous." That doesn't mean they aren't necessary, though.

"It is our goal to keep the Town structurally sound and safe and to maintain a great quality of life into the future," Bosworth said. "We will also be concentrating on environmental projects including the installation of a vehicle wash station at our Roslyn Highway Yard."

Plans also call for funding a project for the building department that would digitalize all property records, historical papers, deeds, drawings, occupancy certificates and more. This means the records will be kept safe from fires and floods, and will make them viewable online.

Here are some other capital projects on the docket:

• A feasibility study to make recommendations on expanding — and improving — the existing trap-neuter-return program and possibly create a new cat sheltering program.
• The reconstruction, improvement and functionality of the existing Clinton G. Martin parking lot. This includes milling, resurfacing, restriping, lighting and removing some cement islands.
• Engineering services for Charles Fuschillo Park, which will focus on installing a new playground and turning the former ice skating rink into a water spray pad. The project will also include rehabilitation of a quiet area of park.
• Evaluation of existing conditions of pool and pump house at Martin "Bunky" Reid Park and pool, including: pool structure, fencing deck, drains, plumbing, gutter system, pool mechanical/electrical components, pool, chlorination system, pool controls, heating and ventilation of mechanical/filtration room, etc.
• Historical structural repairs at the Schumacher House including historical restoration of outside envelope, including siding, windows, trim, shutters, doors, gutters and leaders. Historical restoration of exterior features, including stoops, porticos, and associated hardscaping. Some landscaping improvements around building perimeter.
• The installation of shade structures for the Whitney Pond pool complex.
• Leeds Pond Culvert rehabilitation project would develop a new overflow culvert constructed north of the culvert at the location where there is an existing outflow to the bay, requiring a spillway entrance to maintain the pond elevation and a shallow coffer dam until construction across the road is completed.
• A project to study the feasibility of a water management system that would use storm water collected at both the Solid Waste Management Authority landfills and at the Harbor Links Golf Course to help address water conservation concerns.