VOL Studies New Field in Flint Park, Announces $683K Grant

by Harriet Kline

(November 8, 2006) The Larchmont Village Board appeared in a lighthearted mood on Monday November 6th as it zeroed in on a possible site for a new playing field and as the mayor praised former and current trustees for their efforts in getting a sizable grant for renovating the Palmer Avenue business district.

Playing Fields

The board officially and unanimously (Trustee Mike Weiner was not present) approved $9,500 for a feasibility study of installing an artificial turf field in Flint Park. The engineering firm of Woodard & Curran will determine whether the land now occupied by three tennis courts and picnic tables at the far end of the park is suitable for a field. A sliver of this land is owned by the Town of Mamaroneck. It is anticipated that the Village will lease the land from the Town should things go forward. In any case, the two municipalities will need to work in tandem to build a field.

Scheme by Eberlin & Eberlin planners shows a possible turf field (green square) in Flint Park adjacent to 2 existing fields behind Hommocks (top), and the county's underground water tank (at right).

Financing for the field may come from the Westchester County “Legacy Fund” as well as private funds from the sport teams and the communities. Trustee Jim Millstein cited a number of steps that need to be taken to make this happen – including the preparation of a construction plan that requires approval from the County Planning Board and eventual approval of the project by the County Board of Legislators. He said that County Legislator Judy Myers had been particularly helpful in navigating within various County agencies and that she has served as an “ombudsman” for the project. She will inspect the site on Thursday, November 9 with members of the County Planning Board and Village and Town officials.

Greg McCastle, representative of the Fields for Kids group, thanked the board for its work on this issue and engaged board members in additional discussion about possible improvements to existing fields. (See: Fields for Kids Takes Its Case to Larchmont Board.)

On Thursday, November 9, County Legislator Judy Myers (in red) brought state, county and local officials to look at the proposed "Legacy Grant" field for Flint Park. From left: VOL Trustee Anne McAndrews, NY Assemblyman George Latimer, County Board of Legislators Chair Bill Ryan, Legislator Myers, County Parks Commissioner Joe Stout, consultant Anthony Catalano of Woodard & Curran, Mamaroneck Supervisor Valerie O'Keeffe, VOL Mayor Liz Feld, VOL Trustee Marlene Kolbert, Roger Holden from the Flint Park Conservancy, Fields for Kids President Jim Hanley.

NY State Transportation Enhancement Grant

Mayor Liz Feld made a formal announcement of the $686,000 grant Larchmont received from the New York State Transportation Department last week to renovate the Palmer Avenue business district near the train station. She took time to thank former Trustee Ned Benton and Trustee Anne McAndrews, who have been working since 2001 on the grant. Initially the grant application had been rejected, but Trustee McAndrews and Mr. Benton rewrote the grant proposal, updated the data and added supporting letters to make their case. (See: Larchmont to Get $683K for Palmer Avenue Renovations.)

Mayor Feld also thanked Joe Bedard, head of the Village Public Works Department, for assistance in refining some of the data points required for the grant application. Mr. Benton said that “it was a pleasure to work with the board and its leader” and called the success of the application process a “miracle of volunteer government.” Trustee McAndrews also gave thanks to the Village Beautification Committee for originating the idea of the Palmer Avenue upgrade.

Alcohol and Drug Use Survey

Mamaroneck School Board member Janet Buchbinder alerted the Larchmont Board to the “alarming statistics” found in the results of a survey of Hommocks and Mamaroneck High School students about their use of alcohol and drugs. (See Alcohol and Drug Use Rises Among MHS Students.)

Mayor Feld indicated that, unfortunately, Village law enforcement officers are sometimes at odds with parents in their attempts to enforce the laws in regards to alcohol and drug use. Trustee McAndrews warned residents that use of fake identification is now treated very seriously – they are deemed forged documents and their use is now considered a felony.

Both the mayor and Ms. Buchbinder urged residents to work cooperatively with the School Board, the tri-municipalities and the Community Counseling Center to address this issue.

Fees for Street Opening Permits

The board voted unanimously to increase fees for street opening permits from the current $75 to $350. Trustee Millstein stated that the new fee represents a more accurate scale for labor costs incurred by the VOL Public Works Department after streets are opened by utilities or other workers. In coming up with the new figure, he said, the board had looked at fees currently charged by other Westchester municipalities of comparable size.