Pulse of the Peninsula: Park district should pursue rec center

Great Neck Park District commissioners will be deciding this month whether to take the bold first step and seize a rare opportunity to finally create a year-round recreation center that the community has been craving — to put down $250,000 down payment for an option to purchase the Kings Point Tennis Center, on Steamboat Road, abutting Kings Point Park in Kings Point.
I urge the commissioners to go forward — as was the strong, even unanimous, consensus of the standing-room audience who came out to hear the presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
The down payment would secure the park district’s option to buy the property, keeping it off the market for the six months or so that it would take to do the planning and go through the public hearing process for bonding.
The commissioners came well prepared, answering the most immediate questions, while clearly being open to residents’ comments and suggestions.
While stressing that details would still need to be finalized — indeed the idea is for the building to be flexible to accommodate programming and revenue strategies — Commissioner Robert Lincoln and Superintendent Jason Marra laid out the basic outline:
The building, at 143 steamboat road, is 13,855 sq. ft., 12,000 sq. ft., for the two indoor tennis courts on 0.6065 acres — approximately the size of two high school basketball courts.
“Our vision is to create a multi-purpose recreation facility that serves people of all abilities, to offer a wide range of activities that promote social interaction, wellness, health and recreation,” Marra said.  “It will complement but not duplicate services available to the community — a facility that will be financially feasible and sustainable.”
There could be team practice — soccer, basketball, lacrosse, sports training and fitness. 
For young people there could be gymnastics tumbling, a tiny tots gym, vacation break programs, cross-fit for kids, birthday parties, rock climbing wall; for teens, it could be used for teen nights and social events, a basketball league, evening and weekend programs; for active older adults there could be fitness classes, a walking/running indoor track, strength training and fitness classes, social gatherings and dances.
Facility costs could be offset by numerous revenue opportunities that could include fee-based programs and classes, renting out space for athletic teams, birthday parties.
Lincoln said that an appraisal has been done — and a guarantee that the park district would not pay more for the property than the appraised value. 
The total bond that would be sought, to cover the purchase of the property, plus renovation cost, plus whatever has to be done to lease or acquire parking, is ball-park estimated at $5 to $7 million — a 20-year bond at the current, incredibly low, interest rate of 2.2 percent would put the annual tax increase per household at $26 to $36.
Lincoln noted that these estimates were conservative, even worst case scenario, so that there would be no surprises for the community.
“We are open to ideas from the community,” Lincoln said.  “This is a tremendous opportunity, a unique opportunity, we are looking for feedback, then we will get the numbers concrete and put a plan in place.”
 Indeed, while Great Neck likes to pride itself as being on the forefront of community programs, we are behind the curve in terms of having a recreation center — 61 percent of communities of our size have a recreation center — we are with the 39 percent who don’t.
This is an opportunity that comes around only once in perhaps a generation or so — there is very little vacant land on the Peninsula and what the Park District has acquired for greenspace would not be appropriate to build a new structure, which would likely cost three or four times what the proposed acquisition and renovation of Kings Point Tennis building would cost.
The district missed out on a similar opportunity years ago when the bayfront Waldbaum’s store became available — it’s now a BMW repair shop.
But at the overflow meeting at Great Neck House on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the support for the acquisition was unanimous that touched the various demographics of the community,, including a large contingent of young people, middle aged and seniors.
“This a unique opportunity.” Commissioner Dan Nachmanoff said. “It is rare we can find a facility already built that we could use to provide the services we want.”
The Commissioners should move forward with the acquisition.
 This is a bargain price, costing households at most $36 a year to have this year-round facility which people have been clamoring for, and which is wonderfully situated right next to Kings Point Park. 
Interest rates are still at historical lows, 2.2 percent, which makes the 20-year bond extremely attractive. 
This is an investment in our future, in our community — and, it could be financially self-sustaining, while also being sustaining for the health and wellness of us all.
To register your view, email gnparks@greatneckparks.org