Officials Break Ground On New Spray Park At Roberto Clemente

BRENTWOOD, NY - Officials broke ground on the construction of a new spray park at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood on Wednesday.

Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, NYS Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D., Brentwood), and Islip Town officials joined together for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the construction of the state-of-the-art spray park.

Roberto Clemente was shut down in 2014 after it was discovered that toxic waste had been illegally dumped in the park. It was officially reopened to the public last year, however officials have still been working on the park since.

The new spray park was modeled after the Town of Islip’s ever-popular Shipwreck Cove in Bay Shore, will incorporate a splash pad with zero-depth entry into two age-appropriate pool areas.

It will be an inclusive spray park, accessible to young and old alike, as well as to people of all levels of ability or disability.

Plans include 30 water features as well as its own filtration system, separate from the main swimming pool.

Construction on the pool, which has been closed since 2012, is ongoing and expected to be completed by this summer.

Town of Islip DPW Commissioner Tom Owens recently made a video providing residents with an update on the Olympic-sized pool. Watch the full video below:

For the spray park, Ramos announced that officials secured $2 million in state funding,

"We are pleased to begin construction on this state-of-the-art spray park," Carpenter said. "It will bring another level of fun to Roberto Clemente Park, which children of all ages and abilities can enjoy.

The Town of Islip will use its own resources for the demolition, including a 25 ton excavator with a hydraulic jackhammer, in an effort to save taxpayer dollars and reduce the total cost of the project.

The machinery will be used to break up concrete in preparation for construction, and will excavate a total of 50,000 pounds of soil.

The bid will be advertised Thursday, with documents ready for pick up.

"I am happy to see construction begin on what will be an outstanding recreational outlet for the young people of our community," Ramos said. "Today we are seeing the results of what happens when we cross partisan and jurisdictional lines and just focus our families and children. Due to the joint effort with Supervisor Carpenter we can finally begin to bring back summer for our families and children."

Related:

• Local Officials, Residents 'Disappointed' In Newly Reopened Roberto Clemente Park
• Roberto Clemente Park Reopens After 3 Years
• Petition Started to Reopen Roberto Clemente Park
• Town Begins Work On Olympic-Sized Pool At Roberto Clemente Park
• Construction On Roberto Clemente Park Pool Underway

Photo courtesy of Town of Islip