The Oyster Bay Main Street Association is working on a proposal to place a carousel in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park with a theme based on the life of TR, our 26th president and the only president from Long Island. It is not the only proposal for the park; the Oyster Bay Civic Association will soon unveil a passive plan that follows the original deed's requests of having "no carousel" in the TR Memorial Park.

Last year, Main Street explored the possibility of bringing Nassau County's Nunley's Carousel to Oyster Bay, in a proposal that resulted in a great deal of media attention resulting in the carnival ride returning to its original home. Recently, the OBMSA has arrived at what it believes to be a better solution - a new carousel based on the legacy of T.R. and Oyster Bay's own history.

That proposal is also gaining media attention as well as comments from local residents who feel the location of the carousel is something that deserves better consideration. The site is generally in the area where one of two picnic shelters are currently located. The plan indicates that it will be moved closer to the other picnic area, cutting down on the open meadow that is used by Town of Oyster Bay groups that enjoy the park during the picnic season.

Still, the proposal has its supporters.

"A Theodore Roosevelt-themed carousel will bring an educational aspect to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, one that would be done in an authentic way," said Mike Rich, co-chair Main Street Carousel Committee. "This project will educate future generations about Long Island's only US president. It will be wonderful for the school children," added Mr. Rich.

"We believe this carousel will accomplish a number of goals at once," commented Bill Sheeline, president of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. "It will help to revitalize Oyster Bay's downtown by establishing a better connection to the waterfront and improving the walkability between the park and the downtown. The project will attract families to the community, which in turn will help the local economy. Carousel projects in other communities have proven to be effective in accomplishing these goals," added Sheeline.

With the backing of local resident and honorary chair, Billy Joel, and other philanthropists, the Main Street Association has secured pledges of more than $1.1 million at this juncture. They have fully explored the new concept - to be funded privately at no cost to taxpayers, and believe in the project's purpose and feasibility. Recently, the Main Street Association received the support of Supervisor John Venditto of the Town of Oyster Bay and will move forward to seek the approval from the town board via a public process. "I'm pleased to lend my support for this important project," said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. "The Town of Oyster Bay is well-known for its outstanding recreational facilities and its historic richness. This carousel, with its theme based on the life of Oyster Bay's favorite son, President Theodore Roosevelt, is a perfect blend of the two and will provide educational enjoyment for both children and their parents," he added.

The association is working with the Theodore Roosevelt Association and Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and the Oyster Bay Town Historian to explore the aspects of Theodore Roosevelt's life and accomplishments that could be represented in carvings and murals crafted by artisans. A volunteer committee headed by Mike Rich, who helped bring the TR statue to Oyster Bay; and Jerritt Gluck who renovated and manages the Moore's building where TR's summer White House office was located; is working with Gene Pelland, special projects for Billy Joel; Roger Bahnik, chairman of Mill-Max Corporation and co-president of the Boys & Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich; Norman Parsons, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Association; John Hammond, Town Historian; Oyster Bay Cove resident Patsy Randolph of the Rauch Foundation and Tracy Dellomo, vice president, Merrill Lynch. Principal Joe Reilly, AIA, of Reilly + Associates Architects, is working on the project with Main Street's Design Committee, chaired by Ellen Roché, architect. The design of the carousel and building will be historic and reminiscent of the timber frame architecture of the Oyster Bay Train Station, which is planned as a future railroad museum. The Main Street Association believes that a new structure for a carousel, done tastefully and with reference to the historic past can co-exist quite well with the railroad museum. "The two projects work so well together," commented John Hammond, Town of Oyster Bay historian.

When the original concept of bringing the Nunley Carousel to Oyster Bay was proposed there was some opposition to putting the carousel in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park since the deed specifically says "no carousel".

Norman Parsons, president of the TRA recounted information that he said explains why the deed between the TRA and TOB states that "No circuses, carnivals or amusements which are dependent upon mechanical operation or device shall be permitted in any part of the park, and this shall be construed to exclude, among other amusement park activities, the carousel, switch-back, ferris wheel, roller coaster and other similar mechanical amusements of a noisy variety," does not prevent a carousel from being erected at the park.

He said, "There was a carnival that was run adjacent to the park and it was the concern of drafters of that deed, that that carnival would not drift over into the park."

He said, "The concern of the TRA is to ensure that whatever is done there will be done tastefully, not like a carnival atmosphere and that it is geared to families and is low-key. With that concept, the TRA board approved it with those considerations. We have not modified the deed as yet." He said after the actual proposal is presented, the TRA board will view it. He said, "This is the third and possibly fourth modification of the deed."

Mr. Parsons said that the Main Street Association spoke about the original project with then executive director Dr. John Gable. "They had located it where it intruded on the memorial portion of the park [where the flagpole is located]. There are the ball fields, the memorial part and the recreation section. We insisted it not intrude on the memorial section of the park," he said.

When asked if the location was taking up open space that TR, the conservation president, has always advocated to preserve, he said, "TR's attitude is that the park was something for families. The carousel is adjacent to but does not significantly intrude on the picnic area." He said it was not a case of the park being open space, but that TR wanted it for the use of families.

The TR picnic area is well used by families and groups in the Town of Oyster Bay. When it is opened for residents to sign up for it, it just takes a few hours before all the slots are taken.

Mr. Parsons said, "My role is to represent the TRA and to make sure it is done tastefully and in character. What was presented previously is not what is proposed now. This is a new concept. My understanding and knowledge from the carousel committee is that there is room for two carousels in the county and it seemed appropriate for them [Baldwin residents] to get Nunley's that originated on the South Shore. That changed the whole concept on the part of the carousel committee. What is being proposed now is a carousel that will be carved with a Theodore Roosevelt and an Oyster Bay theme and housed in a different kind of building. I don't know what it will translate into.

Mr. Parsons said, "My own feeling is that the park has a lack of security, as the late John Gable was tremendously concerned about. Some elements are in need of repair so the carousel in our mind is a general upgrading of the park. If it is done not in a honky-tonk way and it attracts families - could that be all bad? There are a lot of considerations. There is a reason why people are concerned but it will not be obtrusive and unpleasant and the business plan indicates that it is a self-sustaining operation and will be built with no taxpayer donations."

He said that the location is near the picnic area but he said, "It doesn't push any of those uses away."

The Main Street Association has reached out to Greenport Mayor David Kappel who has used a carousel to revitalize his downtown area. Tim Archdeacon of ABI Research said, "I don't agree that the carousel is the seed from which revitalization of Oyster Bay will spring. I don't think the analogy of Greenport is correct. The dynamics are different. The main pathway to Greenport is past the carousel and that is not so for Oyster Bay. It is being proposed for the back end of Oyster Bay. We need an anchor store to do that. In Greenport the carousel is in the center of town, in the middle of their shopping district. People stop, park and walk around the town and visit the shops."

There is also a long-established restaurant on the pier, Claudio's and a ship's chandlery, Preston's that add to the success of the location.

Mr. Archdeacon said, "Suddenly this carousel is going to make all the absentee landlords polish up their buildings and improve their rentals? It's not going to happen. If they want to fix the hamlet look at the pathway into the downtown. From BMW of Oyster Bay to the Hess Station, use eminent domain and take away the property, expand the road, get rid of parking on the road and make it presentable. It's a notch above a trailer park now.

"If Main Street wants to do something they would spend every effort on fixing the parking problem. They are trying to use diplomacy with the town board that has completely ignored the parking problem. There is no impetus for the town board to change their parking policy.

"I don't think there should be one group leading the charge - one stranglehold. I do agree with opening up the park to the town. I don't think a carousel is the way to do it. I think the carousel would exacerbate the existing problems. A carousel is not going to accomplish what they want. Their energies are misplaced."

Mr. Archdeacon said, "No one has stopped to think it through. Stick with the original plan of passive park. Enjoy it!"

Part of the proposed carousel plan calls for moving the pedestrian crossing that currently opens up a vista of an alley of trees, and on to the flagpole and the water, would be moved to the end of Audrey Avenue and near the Oyster Bay Rail Road Museum, the original station house. Currently the LIRR is trying to eliminate pedestrian grade crossings but LIRR spokesperson Sam Zambuto said they have no comment on moving the crossing until a plan is formally presented to them by Main Street. Mr. Zambuto was delayed in responding to the question because he was working on an unfortunate incident that happened last week, when a pedestrian was struck on the mainline of the Ronkonkoma branch.

From his expertise of the workings of the Oyster Bay line, David Morrison, former LIRR Oyster Bay Branch Manager sees a problem in moving the pedestrian crossing to Audrey Avenue. He said, "It will create a blind spot for the train engineer coming out of the rail road storage yard. Now when the engineer comes out he can look a distance and see the pedestrian crossing. If the crossing is moved closer to the station, the engineer won't have a view of what is coming from the south until he is up to and past the rail road station building."

The engineer will have a blind spot where he would not be able to see people approaching the crossing because the station house would block his view of the oncoming traffic from Audrey Avenue and will not allow enough time to stop the train. "Right now a train comes out of the yard, about 50 ft. to Audrey Avenue and the station building. The pedestrian crossing is 80 feet to 100 feet from there. Right now there is no problem because there is no crossing at the station house," he said.

Additionally, the Oyster Bay Station Restoration Committee (OBSRC) that Mr. Morrison chairs, has plans for the area. He said, "We want to build canopies [roofs that go along the rail road line to shelter passengers], not as long as they were, but about 50 to 70 feet on the west end of the station building. We don't want this crossing to interfere with our canopies. There might be something under the canopies - possibly a police booth. In that case we would want to extend the canopies further west toward Audrey Avenue and will be going pretty close to the pedestrian crossing. It's a bad thing altogether - of moving the pedestrian crossing."

Mr. Morrison reminded readers that the OBSRC is under the Oyster Bay Historical Society and Director Tom Kuehhas as is the Friends of Locomotive 35.

On a personal view, not speaking for either the Oyster Bay Station Restoration Committee or the Friends of Locomotive 35, Mr. Morrision said, "When TR took the train from Oyster Bay, he had a view of the water. It was a nice peaceful serene view that he had between the rail road and Oyster Bay harbor. There was nothing interfering with the view.

"Now with this proposed big building it is going to change the whole character of the station as TR knew it. The entire view from the railroad station, instead of being a peaceful and serene view, there might be a huge building there. Marie Knight, [president of the Oyster Bay Civic Association that formed the OBCA's original Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Restoration Committee and spurred the re-enactment of the TR Park Advisory Committee] has taken a good position in trying to preserve the integrity of the original deed. There is a little piece of property in Oyster Bay that is preserved in TR's memory. It was supposed to be peaceful and serene and remain that way forevermore," said Mr. Morrison reiterating that this is his personal view of the proposed building.

"This carousel even if the TRA is supporting it, is a bastardization of the 1943 deed and it does an injustice to TR and his relationship to the rail road station in Oyster Bay." Mr. Morrison is speaking from a unique vantage point, a longtime rail road historian he is retired from the LIRR where he worked as the Oyster Bay line branch manager.

Principal Joe Reilly, AIA, of Reilly + Associates Architects is knowledgeable about the carousel plans that include building on a flood plain. There is some discussion about how high the building has to be above the flood plain. Mr. Parsons said it was 10 feet, architect Ellen Roché thought it was 4 feet. A survey is needed to determine the exact figure.

Mr. Reilly explained the effect of being located on a flood plain, saying, "According to the DEC elevation of the flood plain, the site of the carousel in AE 13 which means it has to be 13 feet above sea level. The property needs to be resurveyed but we believe the needed fill is about 3 to 4 feet or less. There was some fill brought in when the bathroom building was put up." He said it would take a civil engineer to know what the grade slope of the hill would be. He said, "It would be about waist high, not much of a difference." He said it feathers out, adding that it will bring up other areas that are swamped out too. "It will bring the picnic area out of the hole. It is very wet when a bad storm comes in. By feathering it out it brings that area up too," he said.

As for the nitty-gritty details of rules for the operation of the carousel in the park, Mr. Reilly said they were not all decided upon. Generally, he said they would have the same rules as the park has today. They will charge for the rides and that money will go for the upkeep and maintenance of the carousel and if there are any additional monies, they will go back into the park for maintenance. He said they haven't decided on their hours of operation. He said, "We might close at certain times of the year. Mayor Kappel of Greenport suggested that the carousel should be operating when the schools are out."

Another question to answer is where people will park to visit the carousel. Mr. Reilly said they will park where other visitors to the park do. Mr. Reilly said it would be foolish to spend money finalizing the details of the project until they hear what the public has to say. "We are open to suggestions from the public," he said.

When asked if there were any other locations for the carousel, Mr. Reilly said, "If you are trying to bring economic development to the blighted area at the end of Audrey Avenue, you want to put it where it gives impact and dollar value. We have no visitors to the waterfront as there are at Battery Park City, and in Wisconsin, and other communities that have opened up the vistas to their parks on the waterfront.

"There will be the draw of the carousel to go into the park. You want mothers, children, dads to go there. We've learned from urban design, that if you do something very classy, that draws families and children. This is a very sophisticated carousel. We are working with Sagamore Hill to educate people on Theodore Roosevelt, our president, the only president from Long Island. That is extremely important and unlike any carousel in the country.

"It will bring people into the park and make the park safe. When you have blighted area you have people with brown bags in the park. When families are there - the brown baggers go away. We've done it in other parts of the country - with carousels," said Mr. Reilly.

While the previous concept was for a glass building for the antique carousel, he said, "We will design a building in the style of the early 1900s like the Oyster Bay Rail Road Station. The carousel will have no plastic horses. It will be solid wood, hand carved in the spirit of the Nunley Carousel and done by the same company that is going to restore Nunley's. Our children and grandchildren will be here and saying this is an antique. We are building our own antique."

Mr. Reilly said they plan to go to the LIRR to talk about moving the pedestrian crossing. He said maybe there will be a gate there. The opening in the fence will be wider, he added. "The vista and formal gardens stay the same. Only the entrance moves to the east. It will be as Olmstead planned (the great landscape designer who created Central Park in NYC and Planting Fields Arboretum). He said, "Parks shouldn't be seen all at once - they need to be discovered. With the new plan, you can walk along the water at night and discover that formal garden. Taking back our park is a key aspect of the plan. We keep hoping for the oil tanks to go away, but we need those tanks for oil for homes. This plan opens the vista to the park to all the Town of Oyster Bay residents."

The Town of Oyster Bay press office had no comment on the needed hill or the slope of the fill to build the carousel atop. A town spokesperson said, "We cannot answer the questions until we see a specific plan. There are concepts but we can't address it yet. The Carousel Committee knows it has to get a plan prepared for the carousel. They have had some preliminary discussions with the Department of Planning and Development.

Additionally, the Carousel Committee said that the local schools in the Oyster Bay area will be engaged in bringing forth ideas they feel to be important to the design and educational content of the project. For more information contact Joan Mahon, Oyster Bay Main Street Association executive director at 922-6982.