The New Allen Park Will Take a While to Complete

It will be a while before we know what's next in the process of rebuilding and revitalizing Farmingdale's .

That's normal with projects of this magnitude, officials say.

For example, the next step in the process is for the town to authorize bidding on the work that needs to be done. That is expected to take place sometime later this year, said Phyillis Barry, a spokewoman for the town. When the bids are examined, the Town Board must OK the winning bids and authorize work to begin, Barry said.

Cost estimates have varied. Based on previous town statements, refurbishing the town park should exceed $30 million. Barry said she would try to get a more concrete figure.

But the new park, which was unveiled at a recent meeting at to largely favorable reviews, would add a community center, five baseball fields, an additional all-purpose football/soccer/lacrosse field and green space.

The proposal does not included a community pool at Allen Park, which was estimated to cost $25 million -- adding three quarters of the overall pricetag to the final bill, town officials said recently. That would imply the cost of the park without the new pool would be somewhere around $34 million.

The overall plan, however, does include an agreement in principal to renovate the existing pool at , Barry said.

The Board of Education and the town still have to agree on cost sharing and how and when town residents would use the pool outside of school hours. Those discussions are ongoing, Barry said.

The plan is divided into two phases: Phase one will transform the vacant area known as the , a 22-acre former EPA Superfund property on Motor Avenue. It's centerpiece would be a multi-purpose community center with a large meeting hall and stage, as well as smaller meeting rooms for various groups. A complex of five baseball diamonds would be built here.

When the first phase is done, construction work would begin in the existing park area. During that time, the existing all-purpose turf field will be realligned and a second one added next to it. Playground facilities, toilets, a roller rink and a new park entrance are also in the plan.

The work is not expected to be completed until sometime in 2014. The town has pledged to assist local groups to relocate while they are displaced by construction efforts.