The Great Neck Park District is in the middle of developing the budget for 2007 and on Sept. 12 held a work session on the portion of the budget that contains discretionary spending. Staff members suggested items for potential inclusion in the budget in what is referred to as the request for special items. At this point in the process, the projected increase in the total budget from last year is 2/10 of 1 percent, which works out to about a $1 raise per household.

Out of the $796,860 requested in the special items list, the commissioners are proposing that $730,900 be funded. Large ticket items include spray pads for Allenwood and Lakeville Parks estimated to cost $95,000 each. The Village Green is slated for a sensory playground for children of all abilities utilizing shrubbery and other plantings in the design and would receive $100,000 from the 2007 budget and a grant of $50,000 which was awarded through Senator Balboni's office. This playground is estimated to cost in total $250,000 with the additional funds coming from the capital bond program. Commissioner Ruth Tamarin has championed an "all abilities playground" for many years and is most enthusiastic about its implementation.

The other hefty special item is a pre-cast restroom facility for Wyngate Park.

It will be handicapped accessible and will contain two unisex toilets. It is estimated to cost $150,000, an amount which includes delivery of the unit, installation, a sewer hook-up, electric hook-up, engineering costs, the contractor's performance bond, and insurance. Naturally, this item will go out for competitive bidding. According to Chairperson Robert Lincoln, park staff conferred with the Town of North Hempstead to determine the hidden costs of such an installation and learned that the $150,000 is on target, but depends on the distance involved in the sewer connection, which can be quite costly.

Some of the other items recommended for funding include the following:

Under the repairs category, lumber for tables and picnic areas, $12,000; new bridges at Kings Point Park, $36,000; tree pruning and removal, $20,000; and tree replacement, $15,000.

At Great Neck House, the cost for a termite control system, $3,000; repair to the air conditioning system in a particular area, $17,000; and a pigeon control system around the building, $9,500. The last item was a point of discussion as Commissioner Ivar Segalowitz noted that the pigeon droppings on the building damage the exterior paint and require removal and repainting, an expense that if avoided would make the pigeon control system cost effective.

For the pool, operating equipment, tools, supplies and repairs were requested at a total cost of $14,000.

A cooling tower frequency control was approved for the rink at a cost of $16,000.

For the marina, 4 pilings, 3 puffer floats and a launch float were favored at $12,000 and a 50 HP outboard motor for $5,900 plus 1 rowboat at $2,200.

At the indoor tennis facility, the cost to remove and replace the gutters and leaders would cost $33,000.

A computer has been requested for the Memorial Park outdoor tennis facility estimated at $4,000 and a barcode asset tracking software system with an Intel track with scanner would cost $5,400.

The entire tentative budget will be available for residents who would like to peruse it by Sept. 28 at 5 Beach Road. A public hearing on the park district budget will be held on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. at Great Neck House.