Huntington ESPA Committee Meeting: Park Improvement Nominations and Funding Decisions - July 9, 2026

This meeting of the Huntington Environmental Stewardship and Park Advisory (ESPA) committee focused on three park improvement proposals: turf replacement at Breezy Field, structural and lighting upgrades at the Chapin stage, and a turf infield at Cedar Road Park. The committee deliberated on funding sources given limited ESPA resources, ultimately approving emergency funding for the stage, recommending the Breezy Field project be funded from alternative town funds, and tabling the Cedar Road Park request pending clarity on funding flexibility.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the previous meeting were approved with a vote of 6 in favor, 1 abstention, and 4 absent (out of 11 members).

Discussion Items

• Breezy Field Turf Replacement: Todd James presented a request for $500,000 toward the $1.4 million estimated cost to replace the aging synthetic turf at Breezy Field, which was installed in 2009 (17 years ago, exceeding its 10-year life expectancy). He noted safety concerns, frequent repairs, and intense use. The field has two side-by-side fields and is the most heavily used in the town. Discussion included the number of total turf fields (5), the cycle of replacement, and whether this is maintenance or capital improvement. The committee expressed concern that ESPA's $1.5 million annual allocation is insufficient to cover recurring turf replacement and that the town should plan for such expenses. A motion was made to recommend the town board fund this project from the neighborhood parks fund, capital fund, or environmental reserve, rather than from ESPA's balance sheet. The motion passed.
• Chapin Stage Improvements: Todd James also requested $100,000 in contingency funding for the stage at Heckscher Park, which is approximately 60 years old. The project involves replacing the lighting and sound system, including 15 new steel I-beams to create a safe load-bearing grid, as current beams are not weight-certified. The request is urgent due to safety issues and ongoing shows. The committee approved the $100,000 from park improvement funds, noting that $137,000 in unexpended funds from prior projects might flow back to ESPA but should not be relied upon. The motion passed.
• Cedar Road Park Turf Infield: Michael Coffee, representing the baseball/softball organization, requested a turf infield for Cedar Road Park, with an estimated cost of approximately $200,000 for the infield alone (including drainage). The organization has invested over $50,000 in the park over the last five years and commits $100,000 in matching funds. The park has not had major capital improvements in 35 years, and the field is not comparable to other town parks. The committee discussed funding sources: park improvement ($113,000 available), neighborhood enhancement ($1.135 million), or neighborhood parks fund (not controlled by ESPA). They noted that if funded from park improvement, the committee would go negative, which has never been done. They decided to table the application for 30 days to seek clarity from the town attorney and controller on whether neighborhood enhancement funds can be used for park projects, and to explore potential reallocation of unused funds from other projects. The organization was informed they are first in queue for the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Breezy Field Turf Replacement: The committee voted to recommend that the town board fund this project from alternative sources (neighborhood parks fund, capital fund, or environmental reserve), not from ESPA funds, due to limited ESPA resources.
• Chapin Stage Improvements: Approved $100,000 from park improvement funds for the contingency, with the understanding that if the steel beam replacement is not needed, the funds will be returned to ESPA.
• Cedar Road Park Turf Infield: Tabled for 30 days pending clarification on funding eligibility and flexibility. The committee will revisit at the next meeting.
• General: The committee will seek guidance from the town attorney and controller on the use of neighborhood enhancement funds for park projects and on the possibility of reallocating unused funds from completed projects.