The Oyster Bay Town Board has approved Supervisor John Venditto's major parks improvement program for the town. The supervisor had proposed the program stating that with the town's excellent A1 credit rating and interest rates at a historical low, the time is right to move forward with the improvements.

"Several years ago, I initiated a program to renovate and rebuild all of the town's more than 150 parks and parklets," Venditto stated. "Projects were spread out over several years in the budget, and the program has been proceeding smoothly, with new play equipment, ball field renovations, refurbished tennis and basketball courts, and a host of other improvements.

"Some of the projects that were scheduled later in the program, such as new bulkheading at Anchor Drive Park and John J. Burns Town Park in Massapequa, Ransom Beach in Bayville and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay hamlet, must be addressed immediately, due to the unusually harsh winter which wreaked havoc on our parks, along with other weather-related damage such as leaking roofs, buckled backstops and irrigation systems crippled by pipes that froze and cracked.

"While some of the repairs have been completed and paid for under the 2003 Parks Department budget, additional funding is necessary to proceed with the remainder," Venditto continued. "After a thorough inventory of all parks, the Parks Department compiled a list of projects that need to be done now. The department also factored in requests from youth organizations and local civic organizations with respect to improvements at various facilities that came in after approval of the 2003 capital program. The total for all projects is $5.5 million, which will be paid for through the issuance of serial bonds. With the Town's outstanding A1 credit rating, and interest rates at low levels we have not seen in decades, it is in the Town's best interest, financially speaking, to authorize the necessary expenditures so we can move ahead with the projects. Due to these favorable financial conditions, even with these amendments to the Town's capital program, the debt service estimate for 2004 will be less than the 2003 budgeted amount.

"I take great pride in the fact that Oyster Bay Town residents have available to them one of the finest systems of parks on Long Island," Venditto said. "Whether you are looking for a tennis match with friends, the perfect picnic spot for the family, a place to walk, play tennis, shoot a few baskets, ice skate, play a round of golf or take a dip in a pool, Oyster Bay Town parks can accommodate," Venditto said. "The town goes to great lengths to develop and maintain an attractive, balanced and safe system of parks and recreational facilities that support the community's vision and desires and will maintain their value over time. The projects that will be funded by this bond issuance will help the town continue its progressive tradition of nurturing our beautiful outdoor spaces and being responsive to the community."