Committed to restoring a sense of visual charm throughout Syosset's neighborhoods and gathering places, one-year-old organization Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset is halfway finished with its first major project - rejuvenating the downtown park where Jackson Avenue and Underhill Boulevard intersect.

The park, which bears memorials for soldiers of America's 20th Century wars, is always used for services held by the local VFW and American Legion on Memorial Day, which is this weekend. "We wanted it to look clean and pretty for Memorial Day," said Syosset resident Lorraine Donlan, vice president and a founder of the organization.

Although the beautification project will not be complete for this weekend's ceremonies, the most important part of the task is finished. Last weekend, 30 volunteers from the organization, which now features over 100 members, collected and disposed of refuse that littered the small, grassy pocket park.

"When we left we had such a feeling of satisfaction," said Donlan. "In a couple of hours we completely repaired it."

Additional improvements will soon be made with the cooperation of Nassau County's Department of Public Works and Department of Recreation and Parks. Workers from these departments will replace the park's rotted benches, plant several trees and obscure the unpleasant view of the railroad tracks. The organization enlisted the county's help through Legislator Edward Mangano, who is chairman of the Public Works Committee, and Legislator Judy Jacobs.

"I am absolutely interested in continuing to work with [them on] any future programs," said Mangano

The organization adopted the park through the county's PINE (Pride in Nassau Environment) program, and has taken responsibility for its future care. "Part of our dues money pays for a professional service [to] maintain it nicely," Donlan said.

Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset is modeled after a similar group formed in Port Washington, where Donlan last resided. Both organizations were designed to improve community aesthetics, but their goals extend beyond beautification, touching other issues such as safety. All monies collected from organizational dues - it costs $35 for a family to join - goes to community improvement projects.

The organization actually started in September of 1997 in Donlan's home. It was composed of a few neighbors who, said Donlan, "got together to find something to improve and to do something about it other than complain."

Donlan wanted to reach as many of Syosset's 16,000 homes as possible, and so began publishing a newsletter. After distributing her first issue throughout Syosset, turnout grew exponentially. "People, complete strangers, said they loved the newsletter and what [we were] doing," said Donlan.

For its next immediate project, the Syosset group is looking to replace old town playgrounds with new, modern equipment for local kids to enjoy.

In addition, group members are discussing ways to improve the appearance of the downtown area along Jackson Avenue/Cold Spring Road. Included in those plans are adding flowering plants, correcting leaning telephone poles and straightening out crooked sidewalks. "We want to make it look like a Garden City Boulevard," Donlan said. The organization also wants to improve pedestrian safety along this high-speed stretch of road.

"Syosset is a nice town, but it needs to be polished," said Donlan. "It just needs a little make-up."

Restoring downtown is also the goal of another newly-formed entity, the Syosset Chamber of Commerce. But Donlan expects no competition. "We want to work together in the spirit of cooperation and respect," she said.

For more information about Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, call 364-2649.