A project to revamp Mineola’s Memorial Park, including construction of a new bandshell for concerts, will get underway later this month.
Village of Mineola trustees authorized payment of $78,185 to PorterCorp for the bandshell infrastructure at last Wednesday night’s Mineola Board of Trustees work session, and $18,186.16 to Dvirka & Bartilucci for its planning work.
“We’re looking to start work on that this summer,” Village of Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira said.
After the work session, village Superintendent of Public Works Thomas Rini said Mineola-based Valente Contracting Corp. has the green light to begin work on the $1.5 million project to renovate the park in mid-July following the annual Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra concert and fireworks show on July 11.
“We have the bandshell. It’s sitting in my office,” Rini said.
Village officials said construction of the bandshell and repaving of walkways is expected to take approximately three months.
Construction of the permanent stage is part of a major overhaul at Memorial Park that includes the construction of a new gazebo, refurbishing four tennis courts, paving pathways and new lighting.
Money for the project is coming from a fund financed by contributions from several developers building in the downtown Mineola area under agreements with the village. The payments were made rather than building amenities in the village.
Village officials said the fund currently has approximately $3.5 million, with much of it already earmarked for various projects.
“Overall, it’s a good way to spend the money from these projects,” village Trustee Dennis Walsh said after the work session. “We can put on several things in the bandshell other than the Nassau Pops concerts. The tennis courts have been a source of complaint.”
He said refurbishing the park’s tennis courts would be part of the second phase of the project.
Village of Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss targeted Memorial Day in 2015 as the completion date for the entire park makeover.
“This is something that’s lasting, that will be able to be used by older people and young people,” Walsh said.
The gazebo that had stood in the park was badly damaged during Hurricane Sandy and later torn down.
The new gazebo will stand in the northeast corner of the park near the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Marcellus Road.
During a presentation about the performance stage earlier this year, Rini said acoustic panels could be added to the sides of the stage. The stage will be built four feet above ground level to protect against flooding and a roof over the stage will rise to a 22-foot peak and include stage lighting.
A shed for storage of sound and light equipment and chairs will also be part of the structure.
Rini said a survey of the park’s walkways has been conducted to study the installation of new lighting and the possible elimination of asphalt walkways.
He said additional plans for refurbishing the park include replacement of some tennis courts and repair of other tennis courts.
