Huntington ESPA Committee Meeting – October 8, 2026

On October 8, 2026, the Huntington ESPA committee met to review funding requests, park improvement proposals, and open-space acquisitions. No members of the public spoke during the public comment period. The major focus was a proposed renovation of the Cedar Road Park field and a funding shortfall for a fence at Halesite Marina.

Discussion Items

• Cedar Road Park field renovation: Michael, representing the Little League, presented a town engineer estimate of $550,000 to fully renovate the field, including roughly $256,000 for turf, fencing/backstop work, ADA-compliant concrete access, new bleachers, other site improvements, and a 10% contingency. At the start of the discussion, he was told the project is first in queue for the next quarter/2027, but that the committee cannot vote on funds it does not currently have. He said the league could contribute about $130,000, later referencing $139,000 from the Cedar Society, but could not cover the full gap. He cited 550 children served last spring and said the project would make an immediate improvement, while acknowledging the field might need to be closed for construction. Committee members called spring 2027 completion unrealistic due to Land Tech's queue, engineering, procurement, weather, and school projects; late fall 2027 or early spring 2028 was mentioned as more likely.
• Open Space reallocation debate: To fund the field, a motion was made to transfer $1,000,000 from the Open Space Acquisition fund to the Park Improvement fund. Laura opposed the transfer, calling it a dangerous precedent and saying land-acquisition reserves remain important for small parcels in underserved communities. Other members argued the open-space fund, roughly $6.4 million, was built for a seminary purchase that did not occur, and that park improvements are now the most heavily used fund. The motion failed with five in favor, three opposed, and one abstention; six yes votes were needed because a full-board majority is required.
• Cedar Road Park funding alternative: The committee discussed using approximately $100,000 from Park Improvement and recommending $260,000 from the Neighborhood Parks fund, with $139,000 from the Cedar Society. Members noted that Neighborhood Enhancement criteria were not a clean fit for a ballfield project because it is parkland rather than a streetscape or neighborhood improvement. A recommendation was approved contingent on town board approval.
• Halesite Marina fence: Melissa reported a $4,259.17 shortfall for post-and-rail fencing at Halesite Marina Park, replacing aged galvanized chain-link along the road front in the style used at Billy Joel Park. The committee initially approved the amount from Park Improvement, but later rescinded that vote and recommended the $4,259.17 come from Neighborhood Enhancement instead, to preserve Park Improvement funds for Cedar Road Park. There was disagreement about the exact Park Improvement fund balance.
• Other park and open-space updates: The committee approved minutes from the previous meeting. It also reviewed the Huntington Village Artery alley project, where a $50,000 neighborhood enhancement request is anticipated for benches, garbage cans, or art; Center Shore Park, where an invasive-species clearing and limited parking proposal is expected; 336 Larkfield Road, the old Taco Bell property, which was described as blighted and too small to redevelop, with the county declining interest; a 2.14-acre Dix Hills property near the proposed power-line greenway, listed at $2.4 million, with county interest if the existing structure is demolished; and a county-owned parcel adjoining Gristmill Park, which the committee voted to recommend the town accept, subject to resolving an HOA encroachment through lot line adjustment and dedication. Updates were also given on Village Green Park/Sabbathday Path demolitions, the completed Burley Avenue playground, Cold Spring Harbor waterfront planning, and Harbor Walk behind the American Legion. One member objected to the privatization of town-owned waterfront moorings by clubs such as Seafarers, arguing for more public access and a more democratic allocation.

Key Outcomes

• The $1,000,000 Open Space Acquisition-to-Park Improvement transfer failed: 5 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 abstention; 6 votes needed.
• The committee recommended $100,000 from Park Improvement and $260,000 from Neighborhood Parks for Cedar Road Park, with $139,000 from the Cedar Society, contingent on town board approval.
• The committee rescinded the earlier Halesite Marina fence appropriation from Park Improvement and recommended $4,259.17 from Neighborhood Enhancement instead.
• The committee voted to recommend accepting the county-owned parcel adjoining Gristmill Park, subject to encroachment resolution, lot line adjustment, and dedication.
• Minutes from the prior meeting were approved.