Parks & Recreation To Be Focus Of Smithtown Capital Improvements

TOWN OF SMITHTOWN, NY — The Town of Smithtown plans to make its parks and recreation a central focus of its capital improvement funds in 2021 in an effort to improve quality of life amid the coronavirus pandemic, the town announced. The town board unanimously approved the 2021 capital budget on Jan. 21.

The plan's highlights include improvements to the pool area at Landing Country Club; renovating East Hills & Laurel Drive parks; and replacing the turf soccer fields at Moriches Park.

"Providing residents with improved facilities and parks has never been more vital to the wellbeing and quality of life of our quaint community," Supervisor Edward Wehrheim said in a statement. "In these uncertain times, the people of this great community can rest assured of this administration's steadfast commitment to restoring and maintaining the parks system for all to enjoy."

By the end of 2021, the Town of Smithtown says it will have completed the renovation and restoration process of over 75 percent of the town’s parks and beaches in a four-year period. The 2021 capital budget continues these efforts with the planned revitalization of parks like East Hills and Laurel Drive, along with replacing the turf fields at Moriches Soccer Complex in St. James and the replacement and relocation of the playground at Flynn Memorial Ballpark in Commack.

Permanent shade structures are planned for the Landing Country Club pool in Smithtown. The shade is meant to complement the new surfacing and stairwell replacement.

The Smithtown Parks Department is also working to install a new bathroom and small concession area at the country club's entrance to accommodate golfers. The golf course was renovated in 2019, which included the repaving of the golf cart paths and roadway, constructing a custom-built starter shack and halfway house, new landscaping of the entryway island, as well as brand new sidewalks, benches and fencing.

Below are highlights of the capital budget, according to the Town of Smithtown:

• Replacement of turf soccer fields at Moriches Park Soccer Complex
• Renovations to the playground, resurfacing of tennis courts, new fencing, handball courts and walkways at Laurel Drive Park in Smithtown
• New playgrounds, refurbished Handball Courts and new walkways at East Hills Park in Smithtown
• Replacement and repositioning of playground and repaving of the parking lot and curbing at Flynn Memorial Ballpark
• Permanent shade structure awnings around the Smithtown Landing Country Club Pools
• A solar farm development & solar array feasibility study to evaluate placing solar arrays on town property
• Replacement of heavy-duty trucks and equipment for snow removal
• Replacement of the Kings Park Salt Barn to mitigate environmental impacts of road salt storage
• Refinancing of 2013 outstanding bonds resulting in estimated aggregate savings of approximately $115,000.