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Babylon park left in disrepair after vandalism

GWEN YOUNG

April 27, 2008

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We have just one small park in our community and have been promised upgrades in writing by many Town of Babylon officials that have not been done. We were promised a new walkway would be finished by the end of last year. The old one was ripped up in November and nothing has been done since. The playing field is filled with rocks and children have gotten hurt falling on the grounds. No Little League will play there because of the conditions. A town official says there is a plan for the park, but I've been unable to learn what they are. We thought having a small park, we would see better results, but alas it is forgotten.

- Thomas H. Joseph Jr., president, Residents of East Farmingdale Civic Association

Based on Thomas Joseph's exhaustive report with photos comparing amenities at all the town's parks, we understand why residents are unhappy with Michel Park. (See a video of the park at newsday.com/watchdog.)

To be fair, some of the delay was caused after vandals drove vehicles onto the grounds and ruined many of the new grass plugs. That led to the installation of a guardrail barrier, town spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter said.

And some improvements were made - a newly paved parking lot, new playground equipment with spongy flooring to prevent injuries and an irrigation system.

By summer's end, the long-awaited stamped-asphalt path that will ring the park's perimeter should be finished, Baird-Streeter said. Then, the grass problem will be addressed. But apparently, a hoped-for backstop available at other town parks isn't in the plans. The bathrooms should be working by the time the park opens within a month, she said.

Anyone who sees vandals in the park should call 911. If police can't respond quickly, Baird-Streeter said, call public safety officers at 631-422-7600.

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