Local Officials, Residents 'Disappointed' In Newly Reopened Roberto Clemente Park

BRENTWOOD, NY - Local officials hosted a press conference on Thursday to discuss the issues they noticed after the opening of Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood.

"For four years, families waited for the Town of Islip to fix the mess they made of the park and hold a proper ribbon-cutting celebration," Samuel Gonzalez, a union leader running for Town Board said. "Now it is clear that the only thing the Town Board cut was corners. This place is a mess.”

The park officially reopened on Monday after being closed for 3 years.

In 2014, the park was shut down after it was discovered that toxic waste had been illegally dumped in the park.

According to the Town, prior to the opening the playground has been cleaned and raked; basketball court surfaces have been cleaned and hoops and nets are in place; the fields (one baseball, one multi-purpose use) have been prepared for use.

In addition, the parking lots were cleaned and re-striped, new benches and picnic tables have been added to the playground area.

The field was also apparently hydro-seeded and watered in preparation for the opening of the park.

The Olympic-sized pool remains closed but according to the board will reopen next summer.

However, Legislator Monica Martinez, along with Gonzalez and other members of the community leaders stated in the conference in front of the park, that more work needs to be done.

“Children are now playing on the same old rusty swing set that was there four years ago, in sand that has not
even been cleared of debris,” Gonzalez said. “The Town has the equipment, personnel and money to do a proper job restoring the park, but about the only thing they got right was the fancy new signage with politicians’ names on it.”

Martinez said she has received several phone calls from residents who said that while they were happy the park was open, they were disappointed overall with the park.

"We were promised a brand new beautiful park and what did we get?" she said.

Watch the full speech below: