MAY 05, 2016 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A7
A park fit for a president: play space to expand By Elana Glowatz A hidden park in the corner of Port Jefferson could soon expand, as village officials line up paperwork on a few small properties they were supposed to take ownership of 45 years ago. Roosevelt Park, tucked away at the end of a grassy path beyond Roosevelt Avenue
in the village’s southwestern corner, is as big as the ball field it contains — but it was meant to be larger. A corporation that built houses in the village in the 1970s, as a condition of project approval, was supposed to give three parcels on the western side of Roosevelt Avenue, opposite the ball field, to the village for recreational use. It was also supposed to contribute $5,000 to the
village so it could acquire a fourth piece of land, which is pinned between the existing park, the three adjacent parcels and the Long Island Rail Road track that borders the park’s southern end. But the deed transaction was never completed, although no taxes have been paid on the group of three parcels since the 1970s, according to Port Jefferson Village
Attorney Brian Egan. The village board of trustees, in a legal action at a board meeting on Monday night, called the discrepancy a “scrivener error.” It is not clear what happened to the $5,000; the village does not own the fourth piece of land either. At the meeting, the trustees gave Mayor Margot Garant authorization to record three quitclaim deeds, which would transfer the titles of the properties to the village. Egan said he has spoken to the family of the construction corporation’s owner, who has since died, and “they don’t want to have anything to do with this property.” The fourth piece of land might be a little trickier — property taxes have been paid on that lot, and Egan said the village might have to acquire the sliver through eminent domain, an action in which a municipality claims private property for a public benefit and compensates the owner. When combined with the existing Roosevelt Park, the land could make a spot larger than 2 acres, Garant said at a previous meeting. She has also said that she would like to see the expanded spot become a “dedicated space for peewee programs,” because older players sometimes dominate the Caroline Avenue ball field up the road. While the mayor had said she doesn’t want to impact the surrounding residences, in the village neighborhood off Old Post Road known as the “presidential section,” she had suggested adding some parking at Roosevelt Park. Photo by Elana Glowatz
Roosevelt avenue’s park is tucked away in the woods. a path leads from the road to the field, which is next to the railroad track.
Recycle with town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (CRocky Point) has announced the semiannual Go Green event on May 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rose Caracappa Senior Center in Mount Sinai. The event features a pharmaceutical take back, paper shredding and e-waste drive. “This is our fourth Go Green event and it gets more popular year after year,” Bonner said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to clean out their medicine cabinets, file cabinets, drawers and closets and do it in an environmentally friendly way.” Items that can be recycled include TV’s, calculators, telephones, copiers, DVD players, camcorders, scanners and
power supplies. The pharmaceutical take back accepts any and all prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. By safely disposing, residents will help keep unwanted medications out of the hands of children and out of the groundwater. Residents can bring papers in boxes or bags to be safely and securely shredded and recycled. Documents can remain stapled together, but rubber bands, paper clips and other metal must be removed. For more information about the event in Mount Sinai, contact Bonner at CouncilwomanBonner@brookhaven.org or at 631-451-6964. File photo
Support Scouts by eating a short stack got an opinion? express it at tbrnewsmedia.com
The Boy Scouts of Troop 45 in Port Jefferson and Cub Scout Pack 41 are holding a pancake breakfast on Sunday, May 15, to help support their groups. Tickets for the event, which is from 8:30 am to noon at the Port Jefferson firehouse on Maple Place, are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Children younger than 6 years old are free. The Scouts are sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit troop and pack activities, as well as help individual Scouts pay for their summer camp.