The Village of Mineola selected Jackson Avenue-based Valente Contracting to handle the majority of the revamp of Memorial Park, starting with the construction of a bandshell at the southern part of the property. Valente’s $1.55 million bid was the lowest of four sent to the village. Bids were due May 16.
“In essence, we’re redoing the whole park, with the exception of our tennis courts and existing playground facilities,” Village Public Works Superintendent Tom Rini said. “The tennis courts will be looked at separately. It’ll be either immediately in the future or some time later.”
The bandshell would be built near the Mineola Memorial Library and stand 22 feet high at its peak. Valente will also repave paths in the park.
“We were looking at two different methods for the pathways,” said Rini. “One would’ve be an asphalt pathway with a brick-paved border. But then we also looked at what would be the cost of a full brick-paved walkways on a concrete base.”
The bandshell roof could consist of steel, shingles or other materials, according to Rini. Valente did not return calls for comment.
Lighting will be installed for security, according to Mineola officials. The stage itself would be raised four feet to combat any weather issues.
The village is still in planning stages of repairing park tennis courts and the playground as well as a new gazebo. The previous structure was torn down shortly after Hurricane Irene in 2011. Mineola is planning to build the gazebo on the northeast corner of the park near the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Marcellus Road, officials said.
“[The project] has grown from a simple gazebo to a complete revitalization of the park,” Mayor Scott Strauss said. “This is going to be fantastic when it’s done.”
Rini estimated work would begin during the village’s Summer Concert Series in August, a Mineola tradition featuring the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra. The July Fireworks and concert show will take place at Memorial Park, with the August concert possibly held at Wilson Park.
“We’re going to revitalize other areas of this village,” Strauss said. “This is not the only thing that’s going to be happening. There’s other projects we have coming down the pike that’s going to make this village better without raising taxes.”
