Request for Proposal Town of O.B. Parks Department for a "carousel" in TRPark
January 29, 2007
Arrogance and Power
The Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department posted in Newsday, Friday, January 26, 2007 a Request For Proposal (R.F.P.). This Request For Proposal is for the construction and operation for an enclosed Theodore Roosevelt-themed carousel at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, in the hamlet of Oyster Bay. The Citizens For The Preservation Of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park want to know why, with the overwhelming opposition to the carousel by the public, is the Town moving forward with this proposal? The Town is demonstrating their arrogance and power and turning themselves into pretzels over this proposal.
The original deed dated December 24, 1942, was to make a Perpetual Memorial to Theodore Roosevelt. It provides there shall be no amusements, which are dependent upon mechanical operation in any part of the park, specifically the “carousel”. The deed provides that the agreements, covenants and restrictions can be modified by a written “agreement of modification”. Modification, as defined per Blacks’ Law Dictionary, is a change or alteration, which introduces new elements, details or cancels some but leaves the general purpose and effect of the subject matter in tact.
A carousel would not be a modification but a substitution. A carousel in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park would constitute an act of nullification and abandonment of the restrictions in the deed. Parties do not have unrestricted legal right to toss away major restrictive covenants of the deed and destroy clear intent and purpose. If they can put a carousel in the park this year, next year will it be a T.R. themed roller coaster?
We The Citizens For The Preservation of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, the public, our several hundred supporters who sighed our petition, The Florence Park Association, the East Norwich Civic Association, The Oyster Bay Civic Association, have an interest and right to the preservation of open space and maintenance of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park as a “place of rest, recreation, quiet enjoyment” (deed quote) as a passive park without mechanical rides or structures.
Citizens for the Preservation of Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park
E-mail: info@citizensforTRpark.com
I must disagree with Ms. Leone and her misguided interpretation of the proposed carousel. There are many individuals in this community and the surrounding areas who are in favor of the proposed carousel. To say that an overwhelming amount of people in this community are against the carousel is misleading and untrue. There are many highly respected individuals and organiztions in this community and others, who support this wonderful proposal. Anyone can go around and get 500 names on a petition. How many of those names are actually people who live in Oysrer Bay and use the park daily? Do you see the outcry that you saw with Avalon Bay? NO! And do you actually believe that a roller coaster would seriously be proposed for the park? Give me a break! That's just a cunning scare tactic on the part of some certain individuals who are desperate! As for the town, I give them credit for finally realizing that something has to be done to Roosevelt Park. The current state of this once beautifuly maintained park is a disgrace to our former President and taxpayers alike! Let's ride the carousel in Historic Oyster Bay!
Reply to this
Bottom line is that the deed for this donated land specifically said no carousel. The Baldino architect firm in Oyster Bay submitted a beautiful plan improving the park WITHIUT a carousel. Venditto even asked Mr Baldino if he would be willing to discuss it further with the Town. What happened to that optinon. I certainly do not want a carousel and the noise it will bring to a park meant for enjoyment of all residents. The kids already have the sports area, the courts, the playground, honestly enough is enough. Does anyone know why the sports lights are kept on when there are no games on? plus they stay on far beyond the end of events, same with the TOB football field in bayville. LIght pollution is so distacting in this beautiful landscape of the harbor.
Reply to this
I also agree with the Baldino landscape plan to beautify the park with improvements and much needed maintenance that has been overlooked over the years. I commend Supervisor Venditto for acknowleding the benefits of the Baldino park landscape plan. Now lets get going on those improvements upon which we all agree.
Reply to this
There are many people with families in OB who would welcome a carousel to the area. I am one of those people. The bottom line is that Oyster Bay desperately needs something to attract visitors to our community. Our village has NOTHING to draw people into it. I get so angry when I think of what could be. Our little cove is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Stop trying to block everything when it comes to building. I am sick and tired of looking at empty store fronts, abandoned car dealerships and a Shoreline that desperately needs a cleanup. Bring on the carousel and bumper cars too!
Reply to this
Your "little cove" won't be beautiful for long. I was at the last shoreline clean up, were you? These local "organizations" are pushing for the kiddie entertainment to better the town. I would like to see better maintenance of the village, the wooden huts have old info and look worn already, parking is still a nightmare, the planters look like h$#(and most stores don't even bother cleaning up their sidewalks or the filthy windows. Get back to the basics before biting off more than this hamlet can chew.
Reply to this
Hi Scott,
By cleanup, I don’t mean spending a day or two cleaning up trash that may have accumulated on the shoreline. I meant on a much broader scale, like improving the facilities at Teddy Roosevelt Park and putting something useful on West End Avenue. Why was all this money spent on this? New streets, sidewalks and parking lots for what? A new pier was built for a ship that lays dormant for most of the year save the Oyster Fest. How about building something that people might actually want to go to? A small restaurant with a nice outdoor space comes to mind. Wouldn't it be great to have a drink outside and watch the sunset while eating a plate of Oysters.
I think the village looks about the best I have seen it in the past 10 years. Nobmans, Goosberry Grove, Il Piato and Subway show that there are merchants in town that care about how their storefronts look. While I am sure there are exceptions with dirty windows and sidewalks I don’t feel that this is the norm. Do you think that the lack of parking keeps people away or is it lack of something attractive? The parking problem could be easily fixed but is there really a need for it? In my opinion there is very little in the village that would cause someone who lives close to town to want to come down and spend an evening walking around and forget about drawing people from neighboring towns. Lets look at some successful neighboring villages, Northport, Huntington, Cold Spring Harbor all have the draw. They have successfully integrated a combination of Restaurants, Retail stores, Night life and Entertainment and still have managed to preserve the integrity of their respective villages. The village of Oyster Bay needs more of what they have.
The bottom line is if outside investors want to come in and put money into something that brings people into the village, everyone will benefit. It is the trickle down affect. If families come in for the Carousel, they are more likely to go get an Ice Cream and Gooseberry, Bonanza or Carvel afterwards. Perhaps they even go to dinner at Canterbury's, Fiddleheads, Il Piato or Wild Honey. These are all very good restaurants that just need a little more recognition. All have them have the ability to bring people back time and time again. I think they just need a jumpstart. That one time where someone goes there because they are in town is all they need. Cleaner sidewalk and windows and improved parking will surely follow.
Reply to this