After deferring plans for the St. Paul's Fields for seemingly countless meetings, a step toward action was taken at the June 3 meeting when Village Administrator Schoelle said he would have Village staff prepare a memo examining the logistics of the enlargement of the parking lot adjacent to Cluett Hall and the installation of children's play equipment in light of the move to be made soon at Village employees to the cottages while renovations are made of Village Hall. Trustee Jenkins, commissioner of the Recreation Commission, explained that while the Commission sees that every effort needs to be made to expand parking at St. Paul's, the efforts must be made in conjunction with the special needs of the Village as the cottages come into use. Schoelle said that the departmental memos would be ready for the Board by this week's meeting, Thursday, June 17.

The Board was able to remove item (b) from the Deferred Agenda and agreed to remove the circular track and long-jump track. It was clarified that this track had nothing to do with the discussions of a walking track for the outskirts of the property, rather this track is already there and is inside the property. Recreation Superintendent Paul Blake explained that the cinders could be buried with top soil, which would provide a good base for top soil and seeding, allowing for the cultivation of grass for athletic field use.

Jenkins stated, "One thing has to be noted, we have a very limited budget right now to proceed on any of these items. Planning has to be done in conjunction with Village needs." He also explained that much of the work could be done in-house, limiting the need for outside contractors. He also said that the Village has 45 percent of the equipment needed for the play area, but still requires some preschool and elementary equipment.

Concerns surround the development of the fields from worries from residents whose backyards line the property and fear noise from the use of the fields will impact their quality of life to soccer parents who want to ensure full playability of the fields for their children. Many residents hope for provisions to be made to include the recreational interests of all the residents from a place to rollerblade, skateboard, or cycle, to a space for quiet walks.

Some of the concern has taken the form of litigation and protest. Michael Ciaffa, a Village resident and attorney with Meyer Suozzi English & Klein PC, attorney for the plaintiffs, the Kenneys and the Raffertys, suing the Village to prevent it from leasing St. Paul's to CareMatrix, argued recently in comments to Garden City Life, "This case is more about the lands than the building. About 8 to 10 acres, including a soccer field and a playground, would go to proposed development of a brand new addition that is as large as the main building." He said their main goal in this case is to preserve green space and keep the land as a public park. He argued that the addition by CareMatrix to the back of the main building would be "a huge new apartment-like structure, which could set the tone for the area, which is of concern to residents."

At Soccerfest 1999 The Committee for the Public Trust at St. Paul's held a demonstration and began a letter campaign against the proposed lease. A flier being handed out at Soccerfest states, "Acres of park grounds our children depend upon are going to disappear unless you get involved. Under a plan now being pursued by the Village of Garden City, a senior care facility will occupy it. Paul's School and a new massive building, almost equal in size to the existing structure, will be built in these grounds."

It also states, "At the very least this plan will eliminate green space, a soccer field, a playground, changing the nature of our community and destroying a legacy that allows our kids to safely engage in wholesome athletics."

The Committee is providing both verbal and financial support to the litigators in the Kenny Case suing the Village of Garden City. The Committee proposes that St. Paul's become "a community center, a new senior center, a site for library expansion, offices for the Recreation Commission, a social setting for the Village's growing teen population, and an all-seasons club for all Village residents." These are all proposals that were considered by the Village Board of Trustees and its Mayor's Committee and dismissed because of the costs involved in renovating the aging building and maintaining it.

The Village Board has argued that the acreage discussed by the opponents of the lease is an inaccurate figure and that the plans under discussion for the fields now are designed to preserve green space and provide the Village's young athletes with plenty of playing space. The Ward Associates recommendations are not yet available for the public, as Jenkins says only one copy is in the Village currently, and an official plan does not yet exist. Once the Ward plans are reviewed, a plan will be adopted by the Recreation Department and presented throughout the Village and then go before the Board of Trustees for approval.

The departmental memos will also hopefully shed more light on the situation. The meeting begins at 8 p.m. in the Board Room of Village Hall, 351 Stewart Avenue. All residents may attend and comment during appropriate sections of the meeting.