Geiger Lake plan draws some residents' ire

Town officials consider it a gift of a crown jewel. Some residents describe it as a dud they never asked for in the first place.

A group of residents is reeling over the planned redevelopment of a local park they say Babylon officials arranged without their input.

The residents complained earlier this year when the town shuttered the pool in Geiger Lake Park for the second straight summer, but they said they were stunned to learn recently that the town has no plans to restore the pool and has drafted plans to completely remake the 23.4-acre parcel on the Wyandanch / Deer Park line.

Town officials announced last month their plans to make Geiger the "jewel of the town park system," with a new playground and basketball courts, a carousel and a 14,400-square-foot water park, a revenue-producing conservatory the town could use for corporate events and weddings and a botanical garden that will be used by students.

Town spokesman Tim Ruggeri said Babylon has obtained $4.1 million in federal funds for the project -- part of the Wyandanch Rising downtown redevelopment -- and is seeking other grant money to approach the expected $11-million cost.

Town Supervisor Steve Bellone said last week that the plans are final, but some residents said they only recently learned of the town's intentions, despite months of phone calls and emails.

Jo Ellen Elsener, a park neighbor, said she has hired a lawyer to help obtain information after the town ignored a January Freedom of Information request for park plans. "I think it's absolutely absurd that I have to pay a lawyer for something that should be free information to the taxpayer," she said. Reached last night for comment, town spokesman Tim Ruggeri said no park plans were available in January and the town would look into Elsener's claims.

Bellone said town officials discussed plans for the park for some time and met with numerous community groups. The reaction was "overwhelmingly positive," he said.

Last month, the town sent letters or newsletters to Deer Park and Wyandanch residents, informing them of the "potential" plans. Seven calls came in, three of them negative, he said. "They [opponents] are clearly not representative of the community," Bellone said.

Sondra Cochran, a member of the Wyandanch Rising Community Implementation Committee, said her group was one of many that approves of the plans. Cochran said residents had ample time to chime in. "This is a win-win," she said. "And those who live near the park, this definitely raises their property values."

Nancy Holliday of Wyandanch said the community needs a pool, and a water park "doesn't satisfy the needs of older children or adults."

"I thought they'd put in something a little more user-friendly," Anne Cognato of Deer Park said of the conservatory.

Elsener said she is angry the park is losing several athletic fields. "We live in a time where everybody is stuck to their computers and their phones and more important now than ever is getting out into the air and exercising. And to take that away from people . . . is crazy."