The Town of North Hempstead outlined more than 80 projects in its 2019 capital plan last week, calling for $136.1 million in town spending over five years and $40.5 million in FEMA projects.
The Department of Parks and Recreation would expend $50.92 million over five years, about half of the planned $102.88 million spending from the general fund. The town outside village fund would meanwhile seek to expend $33.26 million in that time, mostly for sidewalk and roadwork.
In a written statement, Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said the plan focuses on enhancing parks, improving “critically important infrastructure” like roads, drainage and sidewalks, building up storm resiliency, public safety and preserving town history.
“As your Town Supervisor, I am committed to making capital improvements for our future, while balancing the need to be fiscally conservative,” Bosworth said. “Every effort will be made to find lower cost options when available and to maximum grant funding, without compromising the quality of our projects.”
Between FEMA and town funded projects, North Hempstead Beach Park could see more than $28 million in investment, according to the proposed capital plan – more than any other site.
About half of that – $14.48 million from the town – would go toward a “visioning process” featuring design, engineering and architectural work to turn the park into a “destination spot” over five years. The capital plan also proposes investing $900,000 in wetland restoration and $90,659 in modifying the nonmotorized dock.
FEMA’s proposed projects for North Hempstead Beach Park include a $7 million plan to reconstruct the northern parking lot, a $3.66 million project for improving the south side parking lot, and designing and replacing the fishing pier for about $2.04 million.
The FEMA projects are related to damage caused by superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Another big point of investment would be the Harbor Links golf course in Port Washington, which would receive about $8.35 million in investment over five years, according to the proposal.
About $2.05 million would go to “general improvements” across five years, while $5.5 million would deal with the irrigation system in fiscal 2022. The rest goes toward repairing a tee area, replacing a concession building deck and upgrading the main house.
Related to this is the creation of a water management system that would use storm water collected at the Solid Waste Management Authority landfills and Harbor Links golf course.
According to the capital plan, the $5.5 million project would line the retention basins to create holding ponds and feature aeration systems to reduce how much water the golf course must purchase and help conserve water.
Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park would also be the subject of more than $10 million in investments, according to the proposed capital plan.
Most of the money – $5.73 million – would go toward general renovations, like turf and track replacement, a tennis court renovation, drainage work, locker room updates and stadium seat replacements.
There would also be two FEMA projects: a $4 million reconstruction of the parking lot, which would make it an “official debris pad” for accommodating large debris in future disasters, and $255,549 for replacing building components damaged by power surges during superstorm Sandy.
The town is also slated to invest $380,000 in a dog park at Michael J. Tully Park.
The Town Board plans to vote on the proposed capital plan at its Dec. 18 meeting.
