Resident Cites Issues with New Hyde Park Memorial Batting Cages

A resident who lives across the street from ’s baseball fields cited several issues with the facility and what he considered a lack of adequate supervision during last Tuesday’s meeting of the Sewanhaka Board of Education meeting at .

Resident John White said that both student athletes and local children are using the batting cage without supervision and in one incident a child feel about five feet after climbing on top of the batting cage.

White came to the podium to speak with a binder filled with photographs, photos and several bags filled with baseballs and softballs.

“I’m tired of my house being used as a backstop,” White said, noting that when he has been contacting Sewanhaka’s security to report these issues, but have yet to be resolved. White also cited emails with Principal Michael DeMartino, who in White’s estimation, was not addressing the issue.

After speaking for about 20 minutes, Sewanhaka Superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie suggested that White set up a time to speak with the superintendent in his office, which White said that he would call on Wednesday.

DeMartino declined to comment after the board meeting.