Town to residents: Stay out of park during project

Town officials are asking people to stop using the ball field and parking area at Recreation Park on Linden Avenue, which has been closed while an improvement project is underway.

The latest plea follows notices and signs being placed at the park entrance and an announcement at a Town Board meeting last week.

“People continue to ignore any kind of signage, construction fences, etc., and just use the park for walking their dogs or activities,” town Councilwoman Christine Kane said.

“That is a bit of a problem, where they are looking at fixing the signs that are there,” she said. “It is important that people know that the park is closed. There are dangerous things going on. There’s digging, there’s equipment around.”

Officials said efforts to seed the ballfields and grading a track are being impeded by people walking over the surfaces.

“If you walk on the track, you make big footprints and holes, and all that has to be cleaned up in the spring,” Kane said.

“We do have lots of other places in town where you can go to walk and exercise and walk your dogs,” she added. “If you could use those until we get this all completed, it’d be a lot safer for everybody.”

Town officials hope to have the parking lot and baseball field ready for use in the 2021 season.

Other improvements being done at the park include bringing the concession stand and surrounding park area into compliance with the federal American with Disabilities Act; updating restroom toilet stalls, sinks, and fixtures; installing additions to the walkway; and erecting new perimeter fencing.