Next Steps for Flint Park: Go or Slow?

by Judy Silberstein

(March 4, 2004) Flint Park was back on the agenda at Larchmont’s Village Board meeting on March 1. The Flint Park playground group is anxious to go forward with renovation plans that have been under consideration for months. The board would like to move to the next stage in its process for the field expansion project in another quadrant of the park that has been under development for two years. But there are forces calling for greater deliberation on both projects.

A Master Plan for Flint Park?

One voice for a slowdown comes from Flint Park neighbor David Levine who appeared before the board on February 23 and March 1 to make a case for an alternate configuration for the fields and for preparing an overall Flint Park Master Plan before undertaking expensive renovations in particular plots of the park. He admitted that he had come late to the conversation, but argued, “My initial Flint Park Master Plan ideas would offer additional playing fields, additional parking, and separation of park lands from automobiles, building upon the good work that has been completed.”

“It’s a little late in the game to raise the issue of a master plan for Flint Park,” said Trustee Liz Feld. “All of Mr. Levine’s issues have been raised and discussed over the past two years. She also pointed out that February 27 was scheduled as the close of the public comment period. Last week various groups involved with park usage and planning came together to plot fundraising strategies, including the possible raising of “hundreds of thousands of dollars” by the sports leagues. Now is the time to start fitting the project into the context of the upcoming budget, Trustee Feld stressed.

Trustees Anne McAndrews and Mike Wiener were a bit more encouraging to the concept of examining the interrelationship of various park projects, particularly drainage in a muddy spot near the proposed playground. But neither called for a halt in order to conduct master planning. “We should, perhaps, have a task force to examine the park as a whole as we continue with the fundraising and plans for the fields and playground,” suggested Trustee McAndrews.

“Flint Park is the pearl in the Larchmont’s crown,” she said. “We don’t want to be looking back in a couple of years and saying, ‘If only we had looked more broadly at the whole park, we would have done things differently.’ “

Playground to Go?

Meanwhile, the playground group is moving at a furious pace with its fundraising, though the date for the “community build” to erect the playground has been moved from May to September. Designs are still being fine-tuned and cannot be finalized without further input from the board - in the way of approvals and funds. Playground Committee Co-Chairs Brigid Brennan and Chris Verni provided updates and made an appeal for further assurance of board support.(For more design details,see: Flint Park Group Unveils Final Recommendations.)

The group’s fundraising received a jumpstart from “Ironman” John Steigerwald, who earned over $40,000 for participating in a triathlon last year, and there is a "Rock for the Park" going on this Saturday, March 6, plus a wine and cheese party planned for later this spring. Ultimately, what gets built will depend, in part, on the success of the fundraising.

The mayor was out of town on a family matter, and the board did not take a formal vote. However, the trustees reaffirmed their commitment to completing the project. “We support you completely and wish you well,” concluded Trustee Feld, speaking in her role as deputy mayor.

“We are happy with the progress,” said Brigid Brennan later, “and we are hoping over the next months to firm up the village approval and their financial contribution.”

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