County withdraws plan to sell Inwood land

Inwood residents can breathe a sigh of relief, as the vacant Nassau County-owned parcel that their children play on is no longer for sale.

At the county’s Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee (OSPAC) meeting on April 13, the committee recommended that the 1.37-acre property that borders the Inwood Country Club, Bayswater Boulevard, Peppe Drive and Chestnut Street not be sold. In the past, the site was called Nickerson Park and later Bayswater Park.

The Nassau County Real Estate Department decided on April 14 to withdraw its application before it went to the Planning Commission for a vote.

“OSPAC voted to deny the sale of this property based on strong evidence to suggest that the land is a park, and that it fits the criteria for open space,” said Michael Martino, a spokesman for the Nassau County Department of Public Works.  “At the Planning Commission meeting [the county’s] Real Estate decided to withdraw this case, so no vote was taken and the process was stopped.”

The land was being considered for sale to the Inwood Country club and was first announced at a March 31 county Planning Commission meeting. Possible uses for the site, which were discussed at that meeting, included construction of a storage unit for the country club, keeping half of the property for residents or building condominiums, Martino said.

Residents gathered at the Five Towns Community Center on April 11 to express their opposition to the sale. County Planning Commission member Kristen Kotak attended that meeting and reported to the Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee regarding resident opposition and concerns.

Patty Vacchio, the Inwood Civic Association secretary, said she is very happy about the Planning Commission’s decision and hope it remains that way. “They (OSPAC) had a representative at our meeting and they heard the concerns of our residents,” she said. “The land is definitely utilized and needed because children have no where to play.”

Brandon Kenney, who has lived in Inwood for 45 years, said he played on the parcel as a child and thinks the community opposition and the land’s lack of value were the reasons why OSPAC and the Planning Commission dismissed the sale.

“I’m delighted because we want to keep it open space for neighborhood children who use it to play on,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of places for children to play so I’m glad it’s going to be kept the way it is.”

Matthew Rizzo, 23, said he thinks the county’s decision to withdraw the case is “fantastic.” He grew up playing baseball and football on the property and said he’s excited that more kids get to learn the game of baseball there.

“It’s great that we get to preserve and open piece of land,” he said. “And that the younger generation gets to have the same experience I had.”