To: Steve Rhoads, Ed Mangano, Michael Venditto, Kathleen Rice, Peter King, The New York State House, The New York State Senate, and Governor Andrew Cuomo
Save Cedar Creek Park
We are writing in opposition to Nassau County’s proposition to relocate the Seventh Police Precinct to inside Cedar Creek Park.
The county wants to subdivide one parcel of park land into two parcels of land and build a police precinct. The precinct will have a cement base approximately 8-10 feet in height (flood zone regulation) with a two to three story building built on the base. In addition, they will take additional park land and convert it into an 81 spot parking lot behind the precinct with a six foot fence, install a radio tower, generator and gas pumps to gas the police and count vehicles.
We view this proposal as ill-advised, ill-conceived and destructive of the master Plan of the towns of Wantagh and Seaford. We are extremely concerned about this proposed alteration of park land, the environmental issues that will result from the proposal as well as the quality of life issues for those visiting the park and living in the area around the park.
The following negative ramifications will be inflicted on members of our community residing near the park and for those visiting the park:
The criminal element being brought into the park. The police will be bringing criminals into the park under arrest. For those arrested on a lower level offense (including lower level drug offenses) they may be released with an Appearance Ticket from the precinct into the park where families and children are frequenting.
There are strict laws concerning drug activity within a certain radius of parks and schools and with this proposal the drug dealers or drug users will be brought into the park precinct under arrest and possibly released into the park. It is counter-intuitive at best.
The criminals will also be returning to the park after their arraignment to retrieve their property from the precinct that may have been vouchered during their arrest.
There is also concern that certain arrests or police actions may cause public protest and result in large gatherings at the precinct. These gatherings may interrupt daily activities in the park as well as exposing individuals and families to unnecessary risk and danger.
There will be increased vehicular traffic in and out of the park from those who work at the precinct, as well as visitors and people conducting business at the building.
The increased traffic is of concern for the numerous bicyclists and joggers that use the park on a daily basis.
Not only will additional traffic and noise be generated from daily operation of the precinct, but with a large lot, there is an increased likelihood that the parking lot could be used by other county vehicles and trucks, further increasing noise and gas fumes on top of what will be generated from the precinct.
The gas fumes generated from gas pumps and their proximity to residences and those visiting the park is of concern.
The park will be losing parking areas which in the summer months are filled to capacity, thereby increasing vehicular traffic and parked vehicles on the surrounding residential streets.
The environmental and aesthetic effects of the radio tower.
The additional illumination of that area of the park with lighting around the precinct and parking lot and the effects on nearby residences. The additional noise of police sirens on a consistent basis to those residing around the park and those utilizing the park would have an adverse effect.
The aesthetic beauty of the park will be forever altered by the building of a three story structure, installation of an 81 spot parking lot with a six foot privacy fence, a radio tower of unspecified height and a large generator of gas pumps in back of the precinct.
This area already suffers with increased traffic, odors and noise from trucks and other effects from having the water pollution control plant in Cedar Creek Park. This situation will worsen with the new building
Nassau County is one of the most densely populated areas in the country. We have over one million people living in Nassau County that enjoy our county parks. Cedar Creek is the only park in Nassau County that has a bike path directly to Jones Beach that is utilized by thousands of bicyclists, runners, roller bladders and walkers. There are numerous bicycle and running events that take place throughout the year at the park in addition to the many sporting events and sports practices utilizing the various fields and grass areas.
On Nassau County’s own website, it is promoted that “In December 2006, the playground at Cedar Creek was named “Best Playground of Long Island” by Long Island Press, the weekly newspaper. Previously, the playground was judged by News 12 Long Island viewers as the best on Long Island.” These accolades would surely disappear when a police precinct and large parking area is put at the front of the park.
Why does the county feel it is necessary to alter park land in relocating the precinct? Isn’t there a commercialized area that...
The county wants to subdivide one parcel of park land into two parcels of land and build a police precinct. The precinct will have a cement base approximately 8-10 feet in height (flood zone regulation) with a two to three story building built on the base. In addition, they will take additional park land and convert it into an 81 spot parking lot behind the precinct with a six foot fence, install a radio tower, generator and gas pumps to gas the police and count vehicles.
We view this proposal as ill-advised, ill-conceived and destructive of the master Plan of the towns of Wantagh and Seaford. We are extremely concerned about this proposed alteration of park land, the environmental issues that will result from the proposal as well as the quality of life issues for those visiting the park and living in the area around the park.
The following negative ramifications will be inflicted on members of our community residing near the park and for those visiting the park:
The criminal element being brought into the park. The police will be bringing criminals into the park under arrest. For those arrested on a lower level offense (including lower level drug offenses) they may be released with an Appearance Ticket from the precinct into the park where families and children are frequenting.
There are strict laws concerning drug activity within a certain radius of parks and schools and with this proposal the drug dealers or drug users will be brought into the park precinct under arrest and possibly released into the park. It is counter-intuitive at best.
The criminals will also be returning to the park after their arraignment to retrieve their property from the precinct that may have been vouchered during their arrest.
There is also concern that certain arrests or police actions may cause public protest and result in large gatherings at the precinct. These gatherings may interrupt daily activities in the park as well as exposing individuals and families to unnecessary risk and danger.
There will be increased vehicular traffic in and out of the park from those who work at the precinct, as well as visitors and people conducting business at the building.
The increased traffic is of concern for the numerous bicyclists and joggers that use the park on a daily basis.
Not only will additional traffic and noise be generated from daily operation of the precinct, but with a large lot, there is an increased likelihood that the parking lot could be used by other county vehicles and trucks, further increasing noise and gas fumes on top of what will be generated from the precinct.
The gas fumes generated from gas pumps and their proximity to residences and those visiting the park is of concern.
The park will be losing parking areas which in the summer months are filled to capacity, thereby increasing vehicular traffic and parked vehicles on the surrounding residential streets.
The environmental and aesthetic effects of the radio tower.
The additional illumination of that area of the park with lighting around the precinct and parking lot and the effects on nearby residences. The additional noise of police sirens on a consistent basis to those residing around the park and those utilizing the park would have an adverse effect.
The aesthetic beauty of the park will be forever altered by the building of a three story structure, installation of an 81 spot parking lot with a six foot privacy fence, a radio tower of unspecified height and a large generator of gas pumps in back of the precinct.
This area already suffers with increased traffic, odors and noise from trucks and other effects from having the water pollution control plant in Cedar Creek Park. This situation will worsen with the new building
Nassau County is one of the most densely populated areas in the country. We have over one million people living in Nassau County that enjoy our county parks. Cedar Creek is the only park in Nassau County that has a bike path directly to Jones Beach that is utilized by thousands of bicyclists, runners, roller bladders and walkers. There are numerous bicycle and running events that take place throughout the year at the park in addition to the many sporting events and sports practices utilizing the various fields and grass areas.
On Nassau County’s own website, it is promoted that “In December 2006, the playground at Cedar Creek was named “Best Playground of Long Island” by Long Island Press, the weekly newspaper. Previously, the playground was judged by News 12 Long Island viewers as the best on Long Island.” These accolades would surely disappear when a police precinct and large parking area is put at the front of the park.
Why does the county feel it is necessary to alter park land in relocating the precinct? Isn’t there a commercialized area that...
Why is this important?
We are opposed to a police station being moved to Cedar Creek Park.