Out with the old, in with the NEW!

Old playground being removed today! :)

Fence around old playground

A fence has been installed around the old playground. Removal of the old playground will start soon and the refurbishing of the swings. I am not positive as to where new set is going, but I did ask to have it more centered in the middle of the park. I am also not certain of the color it will be.

Please keep children away from the fencing for safety reasons. Thank you!

New Playground

2 weeks till new playground install per Councilwoman Walsh. Keeping fingers crossed!!

New Playground

New playground is confirmed in hand by Councilwoman Walsh and Commissioner Morris and should be installed within a months time. They apologized for the delay that was due to lay-offs/ budget cuts at the town level. I will keep on them until installed and also keep you all up to date.

Playground install

E-mailed Commissioner Morris again, copying Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh asking why the delay in playground install...waiting for a reply.

Park Clean-Up

Good Morning All and Happy Memorial Day weekend...!

As some of you may have noticed, the park has been a MESS for weeks on end since the two (2) storms we had (the hurricane and big snow storm). I have been tirelessly bombarding the town with requests for clean-up. I have been ignored.

Previously this week I sent about 5 e-mails to Commissioner Ed Morris with absolutely no response.
I was very surprised because I have been getting great response in the past three (3) years. After no response five (5) e-mails later, I also sent one to Councilwoman Walsh. She responded pretty quickly saying that he would call me by weeks end. I received no such call and I advised her of that as well. I did receive an e-mail from him that was one line long, "playground to be installed in 6-8 weeks". I replied, "what about the other issues"? He never responded.

Yesterday I placed a call directly to the commissioners office out of much frustration and got his assistant. He was out until Tuesday.

I told the assistant I need her to relay to him my frustrations in the lack of response, and the half-done job the town seems to keep doing at the park. I expressed my concern for safety with weak trees and tree debris that has been cut down and just left there. There are piles of leaves that were put into piles and never picked up. The playground that has been "in-hand" since November 2012 and promised install of Spring 2013-weather permitting is still not installed. The park has not been raked/aerated as I asked it to be and areas around track have not been cleaned out before becoming overgrown. The park has not been hydro-seeded and new sprinkler system has yet to be turned on. This is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!! I advised that I feel it it ridiculous how the kids will loose out on not using the new playground this spring/summer. I asked, "what is he waiting for", and...please help me to understand what/why is taking so long"? She advised that my message would be relayed and that he would call me on Tuesday morning.

This morning at 8am there are crews in the parks cleaning. It is almost 11am and they are still in there in the steady rain cleaning. Although I do have a heart and feel bad for the workers in the rain today, if they would just keep up on preventative maintenance once a week/or two weeks, they wouldn't be out there now! I just am hoping they complete the job this time. I will be calling him on Tuesday again.

As soon as I have an update on the playground install I will update you all again. I promise to do my best to get it installed earlier that 6-8 weeks. I am still working on getting the track repaved/repaired and added to budget for next year if not sooner.

The summer months are upon us...I ask that if you see/hear any bad goings on in the park this summer, please call the police or park police. If you don't report it, it never happened! If you see something- please say something...

Thank you all for your continued support,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Update

Just a quick update to let you all know that I am working on getting all the tree debris in the park picked up. It has been sitting there since our big snowstorm and crews were sent in to take down/cut up trees, but all the wood was left. Some has been dragged around and left by the track and playground. Unacceptable. 

I am also trying to get the far back of the park (around the track) cleared out/ cleaned up. It is ridden with fallen trees, and vines and poison ivy. 

There are a few trees that seem weak and have holes. Two are pictured. I asked the town to revisit this preventative maintenance issue and come inspect and take down these trees and any others that may pose a danger. 30 trees were removed 3yrs ago but they need to keep up on this. 

I am trying to get the track repaired it not replaced. 

You will see 2 photos of our new sprinkler system. The park has been completely irrigated and the town will hydro-seed the park soon. 

I am also trying to find out if any dates were set for the removal of the old playground and install of the new. Remember, the swings will be refurbished. Concrete will be put down around new playground.

Irrigation system

Spoke to Commissioner Morris on Friday March 15th. He confirmed that workers in the park yesterday were installing an irrigation system throughout the whole park. They will also be spreading hydro-seed (grass) shortly as well. 

2013 GOOD NEWS!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and also hope you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

I wanted to give everyone some good news to start the year. Those of you whom have small children should be most excited...

I have been working on this for a very long time now- about 8 years. Back in April I was able to get Brookhaven Town to allocate $65,000 to Dorchester Park.

We have since gotten a new wooden fence and concrete entrances/ exits. Come the spring or if weather permits earlier, we will be getting a new playground for the children in our community. The town does have the playground in-hand and just waiting to install. The old playground will be totally removed prior to the install.

As soon as I know when work is to begin I will update all again...

Again, I hope this makes you and your children all very happy and I hope it doesn't get destroyed.

Please continue to say something if you see something and to be alert. If you don't report it- it didn't happen...

Thank you all for your support.

Happy 2013!

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Photos of the new entrances/exits & new white lines in road and reflective strips on stop signs

NEW FENCE ON MORRIS AVE. SIDE OF PARK

We are also getting a new wooden post fence on the Morris Ave. side of Dorchester Park. This was not something I asked for, but what the Commissioner put in motion. I didn't see the need for it, but, he did it anyway.  I don't believe that side (Morris Ave.) will be gated with the wooden fence posts they are using. The Sycamore Ave. chain-link fencing is not being removed and gates there will remain (at least that is the busier side).

NEW WALKWAYS

As many of you will see today upon driving past Dorchester Park, new walkways are being installed at all four (4) entrances/exit. It already looks so much better! I have been working on getting them for three (3) years now and finally....!
I am trying to get the track repaved or at least repaired. I will keep you posted.

Thank you,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Leaf bags pick-up

62 bags of leaves and garbage from last weeks clean-up has just been picked up!

Verizon Hole on Morris Ave.

The gapping/ dangerous hole made by Verizon a long time ago is now fixed and concreted. The orange mesh still around it as it sets. I am sure they will be back to remove it. Thanks to a fellow NW member for the phone calls to Verizon as I am sure it helped to move things along.

Thank you

A TREMENDOUS THANK YOU to everyone in the community who made the time today to come help clean up Dorchester Park. We got the South side of the park raked and picked up garbage and did some weeding where we planted last year on North side. There was no way we could of done the entire park today- it's just "too big" and we did not have enough hands to do it all.

I also want to thank Boy Scout Pack #124 and Girl Scout Troop #2751 for all their help.

The town will be by to pick up all the garbage bags we left behind in the upcoming week.

There will be more clean-ups in the future; I will keep you all posted...

Best regards,

Your Neighborhood Watch Captain

Great Brookhaven Clean-Up Pictures