There is a parcel of land owned by the Village of Great Neck that is wedged on the northwestern edge of Strathmore beyond the homeowner association's privately funded playground. It has lain fallow for years and is remembered by some who grew up here as an idyll with slow moving fresh water streams that flow into Udall's Cove host to minnows, turtles and eels and wading birds. In later years, the village used the site as a place for haphazard composting and it was referred to by nearby residents as "The Dump." It has long been the desire of the village to clean up the area and make it into a usable park. Now, it seems, that is likely.

Under state law, when developers build on undeveloped lots, they are required to either donate land for parkland or donate money to be held in a separate account to be used by villages only for parkland development. The coffer at the Village of Great Neck has swollen through the years to a sum of $700,000.

Months ago a plan was presented to the Strathmore homeowners association for a developed park that residents felt was too grandiose and too active a park for the neighborhood.

A newly revised plan was presented at the Dec. 16 village board meeting that was drastically scaled down and which was met with much more approval from the residents who attended the meeting.

The 1.63-acre park, shaped loosely like a trapezoid, would have naturalistic paths and slightly raised boardwalks meandering through the property taking advantage of the views of the two streams. There would be occasional benches scattered about and a footbridge would span one of the streams ending the trail at an observation deck overlooking Udall's Cove and beyond Little Neck Bay. The landscape architectural firm, Retnauer Design Associates of Smithtown, has envisioned "selective clearing" of the underbrush that is considered invasive and replanting with native plants that would be adapted to the conditions there. Vegetation, not considered invasive or exotic, would remain. According to the planners, this process would be done with care to prevent erosion and stabilize the stream banks. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has oversight responsibilities and issues permits for any work because the area is considered a protected wetland.

In the heart of the property, the plan calls for a wave field, which is comprised of little mounds of earth and plantings designed to give a rolling visual feeling. This area would be bordered by a band of native grasses of varying height. Another patch of land would be a mini-meadow with wild flowers. Thickets and rambling vines would be left for cover for birds. In addition, interpretive kiosks with information about the ecology of the area are planned. The materials for the trails being considered are crushed stones, mulch, or small pebbles, all of which would be accessible for a wheelchair according to Robert Retnauer.

The estimated cost of the project is $283,492, which would come from the park fund and perhaps supplemented by a grant that the village has applied for. The passive park would be designed to require low maintenance and would be cared for by the Public Works Department.

Questions were raised about whether trees would be taken down. About 15 saplings, mostly invasive non-natives would be removed, but according to the planners, the variety of trees that would be planted to take their places would be an improvement. "The area is not pristine," said Denise Harrington, an environmental scientist of EEA, Inc., who is a consultant to Retnauer.

Resident Dr. Rose Starr noted that the area was a "mosquito sanctuary" and inquired about how the plan would mitigate that problem. Mosquitoes breed in still water. Over the years, silt has clogged the mouth of the streams as they empty into Udalls Pond and has caused a stagnant backup. Getting approval to dredge those areas is complicated, but the village will be investigating the matter.

The other point raised was an objection to using village funds for a park that would not benefit many residents, as access would be from an interior street in Strathmore with one resident calling it "unethical." But trustee Ralph Krietzman said, "It's an appropriate use of the park fund and it's the only land we have available to make into a park."