Nassau sports fields plan angers unions

Nassau County will spend more than $20 million in the coming months to construct artificial turf baseball, softball and multiuse fields at five area parks, angering labor leaders who were told to expect 700 layoffs by the end of the year.

On the heels of the release of the county's belt-tightening fiscal 2012 budget, officials confirmed plans to overhaul fields at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Bay Park in East Rockaway, Cantiague Park in Hicksville, Cedar Creek Park in Seaford and Grant Park in Hewlett.

Deputy County Executive Rob Walker said the project will generate millions in revenue for Nassau through fees paid by local baseball and softball leagues. "This will create revenue above and beyond the debt service," Walker said.

But with deep cuts on the horizon for Nassau, including the closure of two police precincts, labor officials said now is not the time to build ballfields.

"I don't know how you can justify plucking over millions from the budget to construct brand new turf fields when there is a fiscal crisis in Nassau," said Jerry Laricchiuta, president of the Civil Service Employees Association.

James Carver, president of the Police Benevolent Association, called the project "outrageous. They're making cuts to public safety and at the same time laying down turf."

The existing grass and dirt fields often flood, requiring extensive maintenance, Walker said. Artificial turf generally requires much less maintenance.

Funding for the project, he said, was approved in 2008 and 2009, and will come from the county's capital budget and the Environmental Bond Act. The fields were expected to cost $32 million but contracts came in below budget, he said. The debt service is expected to be $1 million per year and the work should be complete by the spring, Walker said.

At Eisenhower, the county will replace six scattered ballfields with a centralized complex of fields. Nassau wants to emulate the popular Baseball Heaven Sports Complex in Yaphank, which hosts dozens of summer camps, tournaments and leagues, Walker said.

The $10.7 million project also includes bleachers, fencing, lighting, landscaping and scoreboards. The county will also award a $500,000 construction management contract.

The two new fields at Bay Park will be partially financed with $2.8 million in funds from Molloy College in Rockville Centre, which will use the facilities for practices, said school spokesman Ken Young. Cantiague will have two new fields and other amenities. Improvements at the two parks will cost the county $5.2 million.

An additional $4.8 million will be spent to build ballfields and other amenities at Grant Park and Cedar Creek.

County Executive Edward Mangano's 2012 budget was to be submitted to the legislature Thursday. Some lawmakers said the austere plan goes too far. "I cannot envision how Nassau will continue to function with these layoffs," said Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn).

Suffolk also released its budget Thursday, which called for 709 layoffs. County Executive Steve Levy said the plan was "practical, balanced, but tight." But union officials have said they won't negotiate concessions with Levy because he is not running for re-election.

Budget chair Legis. DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) said he wanted to avoid layoffs but said "it's likely" there will have to be union concessions to avoid them."I don't see how that helps the economy to put more people out of work," added Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket). With Kery Murakami