This article is in response to questions that have been asked regarding the acquisition of parkland in Manhasset.

I would like to thank Ms. Clark for reminding the people of Manhasset Park District about my extensive knowledge of ground water protection and well head protection areas and my personal concerns for the quality of drinking water. Now that they have been reminded of my personal concerns they can be reassured and sleep well at night knowing that nothing will be built on the Macy's 7.2 acres that affects the quality of their water.

I would like to note to the people of the park district that the "North Hills Water Protection Area" also includes Whitney, Greentree, North Shore Hospital, The Greens, The Links, Stone Hill, The Unitarian Church, The Enclave, The Greens, Fairway and the land extending beyond Northern State Parkway. All of these properties sit on this special ground water protection area and I believe that most have been built since 1987 or have been renovated during that time period. With that in mind, a novice in environmental regulations can plainly see that anyone can build on a sole source aquifer, and to be totally correct, all of Long Island sits on a sole source aquifer. I point this out because I don't remember Phyllis complaining or stopping any development that took place on these properties since 1987. So I must conclude that Phyllis' new found concerns for the environment must be due to "not in my backyard" syndrome.

Since she now has the spirit of an environmentalist and is so concerned as to the Macy's property, I would suggest that she go on the property (after getting permission from the owner) and remove the junked TV, washing machine, and tires that now occupy this "pristine" land. While she is at it make sure she removes the 30 ft. by 600 ft. wide asphalt driveway that cuts through the property - it's stopping the water from percolating into the soil.

In speaking about the steam, when I last checked with my friends at DEC their concerns are for any construction within 100 ft. of a fresh water stream. The Macy's property is 120 ft. away from this stream at its closest point and poses no impact on it. But I would suggest that, Phyllis should try to discover how heavy metals have polluted that stream and Whitney Pond, I will give you a hint; heavy metals flow down stream. It is the primary reason that the Manhasset Park District has no interest at this time in Whitney Pond Park.

I would like to state that one of the prime ways that DEC feels that local governments can protect wells and recharge areas is by land acquisition. Suffolk County has been a leader in this area. So it seems the Manhasset Park District is once again on the cutting edge, killing two birds with one stone, providing clear open space for our kids and adding to the ground water recharge at the same time. Just to clarify the compatibility of water wells and ball fields, DEC just approved three new wells for the Port Washington Water District at Christopher Morley Park right next to the ball fields, golf course and that algae infested pond.

Now, I would like to frame the answer to the "Information Lacking" letter by telling the residents of the district that I was approached after our public hearing by the author of that letter. Her solution to our lack of park land was for the part district to use its powers of condemnation to acquire the Verizon Building on Hillside Avenue, knock it down and build a basefield field. I am still having trouble comprehending this suggestion. For those of you who are not acquainted with the Verizon Building, it's that three-story brick building behind Louie's restaurant and it houses the complete trunk phone line system for all the phones in our area. Living in this zip code I can't even guess at the amount of transactions that take place every day through that building and the cost of relocating such a system. So that being said, I laugh every time I think of the thought of trying to argue that cause before some judge.

Now let's move on to Ms. Holm's current concerns which she expressed in a letter:

• "Cost to acquire the land seems low." Well, Ms. Holm, we have been given appraisals much lower, and that's due to the zoning, the neighboring firehouse, the department store, and the fact that the entrance is off a commercial road. So our statement at the public hearing of a $2 million price tag is actually high.

• The revenue? Please check your tax bill since we are there. Surprise! All these years you have been paying Park Tax and you have very little if any parks to use. You should be happy that my fellow commissioners and I have moved the park district from an entity that with luck could meet its monthly bills, to a position where we feel we can acquire this property all in less than three years.

• Cost to maintain the property? Maybe you left the room. This is a purchase of land. We can't have a maintenance cost when we don't know what the property will become. It could lie dormant, or become a nature trail or a ball field or two ball fields or a sports center; there is no plan until we receive title, and therefore no maintenance cost can be assigned.

• Define your words correctly! And hear my words correctly! We have not been asked to submit any RFP's to Nassau County for either Whitney Pond Park or Manhasset Valley Park. I said that we have been negotiating with the county for Manhasset Valley Park and several parcels along the bay for over a year and a half. I said that after the last meeting with them they said they are going to hold several public hearings and then put those properties out to an RFP. Something doesn't seem right? What doesn't seem right is your ability to comprehend the public hearing was on the condemnation of 7.2 acres. The ability or inability of the district to acquire Manhasset Valley Park had no bearing on that decision. All the park land that is within the district was added into our presentation and it shows that Manhasset is lacking in park space of any kind.

• I never said we had $5 million in donations. I said that there have been several organizations over the years that have said they would build fields if we had the land, as the Manhasset PAL paid for the new field down in Manhasset Valley Park.

• We have no agreement with Nassau County for the ownership, lease or management of any land in Manhasset Valley or Whitney Park. So why don't you go back to the party you talked to and have them put that statement in writing. They all have the park district phone number and my cell phone number.

• I hope I have answered your concern about the water recharge area above. I really don't know how to answer your concern about an outhouse. Your house operates on a cesspool. Do you think there is a big wall underground that prevents your affluents from traveling in the same direction that a cesspool on this property would?

• Finally to the elitist question: Who can use the fields? The residents of the district of course. The same way that our teams go out of town for games; they are not restricted from playing. Out of town teams will come here and play our teams. Do you have a problem with that? And if the organizations that pay for the development of a field want to restrict it more or less, then that will be done in contract. The simple answer: he who pays, plays.

Now for the civics lesson: this is how the system works, once every year a new commissioner is elected to the board. He or she along with his or her fellow commissioners decides on all issues as to the running of the park district. The majority rules. The public hearing and all communication shows that the majority want park land, the good people of the Park District voted each of the commissioners in on a platform to get parks.

Bernard C. Rolston

Commissioner Manhasset Park District