Residents Weigh In on Adding "Legacy" Field at Flint Park

by Judy Silberstein

(December 15, 2006) Field development at Flint Park dominated the discussion, once again, at the Larchmont Village Board meeting on December 11, squeezing out even Mayor Liz Feld’s year end review. A standing-room only crowd filled the courtroom and spilled into the hall, and speakers lined up at the microphone to offer views on how a proposed new field bordering the Hommocks would impact the sports leagues, the tree line, a community of feral cats and previous plans for a separate set of fields at the back of the park. Also at the mike were County Legislator Judy Myers and Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Peter Neglia, addressing issues of how Westchester’s Legacy program might help pay for the new field.

It was a repeat performance for the Westchester duo, who had appeared at the Mamaroneck Town Board last month on the same topic. (See: Town Hears From County on Legacy Support for Local Fields.) This time, Ms. Myers had come directly from the Westchester County Board of Legislators where she and her colleagues had voted to approve a $1.7 billion spending plan for 2007 that included $7 million for the Legacy program.

Legacy funds for fields have been available since 2001, but as Mayor Feld noted, “This is actually a historic discussion we’re entertaining here” because there’s always been “a fear of having the county in our business.” What’s different now? Among other things, she listed the election of a new Larchmont Board last March and a renewed interest in avoiding field development at the Kemper Memorial Park in the wake of a final ruling that allows the School Board to do so. When Legislator Myers raised the idea, this time local officials were receptive. “Simply put, doing a big field project like this is unaffordable for the Village of Larchmont on our own,” said Mayor Feld.

Larchmont is not the only municipality going after the $7 million. Ms. Myers noted the need for fields is countywide. At least 14 other municipalities are likely to apply for Legacy funds in the next cycle, and applications are due early in 2007. “The well runs dry at some point,” Mr. Neglia cautioned, though he was also encouraging: “We want to make the funding available to you – give us a project and we’ll work with you.”

Westchester County does expect something in return, including that Larchmont assume responsibility for maintaining a 1.1 mile stretch of Palmer Avenue. Every mile is worth $250K in Legacy funding. Developing affordable housing somewhere in Larchmont would also earn points with the program, though “everything is negotiable,” said Mr. Neglia. In that vein, he noted that to be eligible, the field could be either grass or artificial turf. Lights are neither required nor prohibited. Any field developed with county funds would be open to all county residents, but this requirement would be satisfied by scheduling games between Larchmont and other communities’ teams. Larchmont would control scheduling (and fees) for using the field.

At this point, what’s needed, according to Mr. Neglia, is a resolution showing support for the project.

Monday night was a bit early for the board to pass such a resolution. Instead, its meeting was billed as “informational” and an opportunity for residents to express their views and concerns, as they had in an earlier untelevised session last week.

Feral Cats Have Their Advocates

Because the proposed field would displace a colony of feral cats in a small strip of woodland, a number of residents wanted assurances that the animals would not be mistreated or killed. As explained by Judy Schwartzman, a New Rochelle resident involved with the cats for years, the animals receive food and medical treatment courtesy of volunteers. The aim is to stabilize the population, now at around 30 or 40, to find homes for the “friendly cats” and to let the others live out their lives. Mayor Feld noted that the cats are an issue with the County Health Department, but both animal lovers and board members were open to finding a new location for the cat shelters.

Landscaping is Important

“Don’t trees count for anything to a park?” asked Jeff Wanshel, a resident of Spanish Cove that abuts Flint Park. He was particularly concerned that developing the field as proposed would “cut down the last clump of trees.” He noted that trees help with drainage, and lack of drainage is a serious problem in and around the park.

“We all agree that the trees themselves and the landscaping” are important replied Mayor Feld, who said board members have walked the site to check out the trees, many of which are in bad health. The county won’t allow any environmental degradation, she added at another point.

We Need More, Better Fields

A number of young athletes, including a trio from the Mamaroneck High School field hockey team, voiced support for moving quickly on plans to add an artificial turf field. Gregg McCastle with Fields for Kids summarized a common sentiment among the speakers: “If we don’t grab hold of this we might lose the opportunity to do something really good for kids.”

What’s the Rush?

Trustee Jim Millstein acknowledged “this is moving quickly” in order to take advantage of the Legacy program funds. It’s “theoretically possible” he said for the board to decide to submit an application at its next meeting (January 8), receive funding from the county early in 2007, build the field near the Hommocks in the summer, and begin work on the previously planned field renovation at the back of Flint Park in the fall.

Mr. Neglia suggested that timetable was a tad optimistic.

Mike Zupon, a board member of the Flint Park Conservancy went further, calling for the entire process to be slowed down. “Three or four weeks is not a sufficient time to consider all the issues,” he said, particularly in light of the many years it has taken the Village to design and refine plans for the back of the park.

Those plans are in place, they are ready to go, the environmental work has been done, he said. “We want to see it moving forward,” he added.

He questioned whether the site selected for the turf field is the right location and whether Flint Park could sustain all the fields being planned and still have room for those interested in activities outside of organized sports. The Conservancy has been particularly involved in plans for the environmental area next to the water and adjacent to the baseball field.

“Everyone is disappointed in the progress we’ve made” on the back of the park, he said.

“The Legacy program has been in place since 2001, he argued, “the money is not going away.”

Catherine Kortlandt, president of the Flint Park Conservancy, seconded Mr. Zupon’s sentiments and raised the issue of traffic. With only one access road and limited parking, she was concerned about getting two or three fields of kids in and out every hour on a Saturday or Sunday.

Mayor Feld praised Mr. Zupon for his “invaluable contributions” but noted “we have been talking about the Legacy program for weeks. With respect to the back of the park project, she noted, “It was nowhere in April.” She said a recent review by a new set of consultant engineers found that the drainage system as proposed would not have been sufficient. (Twice as many drainage pipes at a much higher cost are now recommended.)

Asked later for clarification, she said the Village was still on schedule so the project could go out for bid early in 2007. However, by quickly developing an artificial turf field near the Hommocks first, it would be available during the two “fallow” seasons required for renovating the grass fields. Also, in return for the new field, the sports leagues have expressed a willingness to give up a Little League field that would have been added at the back of the park. This would provide more space for the environmental area, and perhaps remove the need for installation of tall fences to keep the balls away from those enjoying more passive recreation.

“We’re putting the pressure on ourselves,” Trustee Millstein said. Without deadlines nothing gets done, he asserted. After months of talking, now that the board has said it's moving ahead, people have finally come out. He conceded, “This may be too accelerated, but we wanted to give it a shot.”

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