Park Work Nearly Complete

The revamp of Memorial Park in Mineola is progressing steadily, with the Mineola Village Board recently affirming more than $269,500 in payments to contractors and consulting firms involved with the project. The plan calls for a bandshell/amphitheater, new gazebo, tennis courts and walkways in the park.

The undertaking is being financed through development incentive bonus funds. These monies are allocated for public amenities from downtown development projects, such as the rising apartment complexes on Old Country Road in Mineola.

“It’s coming along great,” Mayor Scott Strauss said. “If anyone has time, take a walk down to the park and look at the progress.”

The village board approved Valente Contracting of Mineola ($149,036.70), Island Fence Company ($3,925) and Mineola’s consulting firm, Dvirka & Bartilucci ($11,321.03) for work during the project. Payments of $32,450 and $55,656.70 were confirmed for Poligon, a division of Michigan-based Porter Corp., who supplied bandshell materials and Pratt Brothers’ concrete work, respectively.

Mineola recently installed an audio system at the bandshell, including an equipment rack, speakers, microphones and a mixing board, with a $17,165 price-tag from White Plains-based Colortone Audio Visual.

Valente, which had submitted a $1.55 million bid in May 2014 to handle construction duties, has been reporting to the village’s department of public works since breaking ground.

“Kudos to the DPW and the contractors with the work [in Memorial Park],” Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira said. “It’s really going to be a gem.”

Brickpaver walkways at the park are complete, village officials said. The path on the south side of the Mineola Memorial Library leading to the war veteran and September 11 memorial was finished two weeks ago.

“All the walkway lighting has been installed with the exception of two poles,” DPW Superintendent Tom Rini said. “The bandshell itself, is approximately 85 to almost 90 percent complete. We’re waiting for some of the interior finishes as well as the electrical service to be connected.”

Strauss said village reps are researching the installation of security cameras near or around the park. Nothing has been confirmed at this time.

“We are taking precautions,” Strauss said. “We’re locking the equipment up.”

The bandshell sits at the south end of the park near the library. The new gazebo would sit at the northeast corner of the park near the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Marcellus Road.

The previous gazebo that stood near the tennis courts was razed after Hurricane Irene in 2011. The tennis courts were excavated in December 2014.

Numerous events are scheduled for the summer months at the park. In recent years, Mineola has been renting a show-mobile from the Town of North Hempstead.

While a temporary stage has been used for Mineola’s annual events like the village’s fireworks show, the summer concert series and other events, village reps have said the stage would be available for other uses. This year’s Concert In The Park, featuring the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, was moved to Wilson Park on Westbury Avenue to accommodate the Memorial Park construction.

“The amphitheater is progressing,” Strauss said. “The sound system will be small. It’s a couple speakers and mics. The pavers are going in and the LED park lights are in. Plus, the tennis courts are done and it’s shaping up very well.”