Last Saturday over 3,000 people turned out as the Village of East Hills hosted a Visiting Day to let residents see what kind of progress has been made at the Park at East Hills.

According to Mayor Michael R. Koblenz, the village is shooting for an opening day in June or the fall of 2006, the year that is also the 75th anniversary of East Hills. The mayor has cautioned that there are factors such as weather conditions and the state of the workforce that are out of the village's control. However, village officials are pleased with the progress the park has made.

This spring bids were made for work on the park and contracts awarded to Gavin Brothers, the builder of Harbor Links Golf Course; Hirsch & Company for plumbing work; Temperature Systems for air conditioning; and Eldor Contracting Corp. for electrical work. Village officials claim that all the work so far has fallen within the originally projected costs of $17 million for the new park.

In recent months, asbestos has been removed from buildings that were slated to be demolished. In addition, all of the 19 Air National Guard buildings set to be removed have been demolished and the buildings completely removed, leaving open areas of fields for the new park.

While landscaping is ongoing, the village will still retain over 20 wooded acres on the site, much of it to be set aside for a hiking trail.

Village officials hope to have tennis courts and basketball courts completed "within months." The outdoor facilities, village officials added, will not be opened until all major machinery and workmen have completed their work.

Prior to the opening next year, all village residents will be given photo identification cards to enter the park and use it as much as they desire, Mayor Koblenz said. Committees of residents will determine the guest policies and the rules and regulations of the park.

In all, the new park will feature the largest village leisure swimming pool on Long Island with a 12,000 sq. ft. pool. In addition, the park will include men's and ladies' locker rooms; snack bar area and large lounge area surrounding the heated pool; a Senior Center with separate card room; two children's playgrounds; six tennis courts with a new tennis facility; two multi-use fields with various configurations of either a men's softball and a Little League field, two Little League fields, or three overlaying junior soccer fields; a nature and jogging trail; a renovated auditorium with portable indoor children's equipment for use in the winter months; a picnic area; a general use field for lawn games; a bike, rollerblading and walking path; two basketball courts; and a park for those families with pets.

On Oct. 3, 2003, with a 77 percent yes vote, village residents approved a $17 million bond referendum to finance the new park. Groundbreaking events were held on Sept. 19, 2004, capping off a process that began in 1994, which is when the village began inquiring into the possibility of purchasing the 50-plus Air National Guard site, which was set to be closed down. The village ended up purchasing the park for a little over $3 million, paving the way for the bond vote.