Cool down at Bay Shore spray park, opening Saturday

Despite cracks and defects that threatened to keep closed the 2-year-old water spray park at Benjamin Beach Park in Bay Shore, Islip Town officials say it will open for the summer on Saturday.

Because of reappearing cracks in the spray park wading pool, the town board in May passed a resolution authorizing town attorney Rob Cicale to "begin a default action" on the $1.3 million maintenance bond posted one year ago by Norberto Construction, the company that built the spray park, to "guarantee that the work will be free of any defective materials or workmanship." In May, town spokeswoman Inez Birbiglia said the company needed a spell of dry, warm weather to seal the cracks.

"All the cracks have been repaired to our satisfaction and we have painted it," parks Commissioner Joseph Montuori said last week, adding that the work was done under warranty.

With the exception of the spray park, extended summer hours are now in effect at the town's pools. Byron Lake Park in Oakdale, Hidden Pond Park in Hauppauge, Casamento Park in West Islip and Roberto Clemente Park (formerly known as Timberline Park) in Brentwood will be open every day of the week for the summer season.

As of Saturday, the spray park and some of the town's beaches will be open every day for the summer season. The list includes Benjamin Beach, East Islip Beach, Islip Beach, Ronkonkoma Beach, Sayville Marina Park and West Islip Beach.

Atlantique Beach opened full time on Saturday. Bayport Beach will be open Fridays through Mondays, and Sayville Beach will be open weekends only throughout the summer.