North Park residents call for playground renovations

The Long Beach City Council approved a resolution last week calling for a renovation of the Georgia Avenue playground in the West End — but not before hearing from North Park residents who asked when a playground in their neighborhood would undergo renovations.

At the council’s Oct. 18 meeting, trustees discussed a resolution that would allow City Manager Charles Theofan to submit and file an application for to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for $400,000. The funding, Theofan said, would be used to make various improvements at the Georgia Avenue playground, which city officials said needs to be rehabilitated: new playground equipment, new fencing and a new surface, in addition to general upgrades. A restroom could also be added, he said.

According to Theofan, the application is for a matching grant, with half of the cost of the project to be covered by the city, and half by the state. Funds would be available to start the project within 12 months of written approval of the application, he said.

But members of the North Park community asked when their neighborhood facility, the Sherman Brown Memorial Playground, would be renovated. “How long does it take for improvements to happen for our recreational facility?” asked Deacon Cecil Garrett, a North Park activist. “My concern is, yes, you should press forward and try to get the funds. But … I think Sherman Brown should be included in consideration for funding.”

But City Council President Thomas Sofield Jr. said that the city is waiting for more community input on whether the North Park playground should be designated for teenagers or young children, or both. “We’re trying to bring in more members of the community,” he said, “and get a better consensus for what they’re looking to do.”

Sofield and Theofan said that they believe the Sherman Brown playground would be renovated before the Georgia Avenue park, and stressed that community development funds have been set aside for the North Park project.

Resident Crystal Lake, however, said that the city, by not approving renovations before now, has neglected North Park teenagers. They are without a place to play, she said, and instead are left to the streets.

“Where do the teenagers go?” Lake asked. “Everyone is well aware they are up and down the streets. This is a fantastic opportunity to address that age group’s needs. They are forgotten.”

Theofan said that the city hopes to make a decision soon.

City Councilman Michael Fagen said he wondered where the city would find its portion of the money for the work on the Georgia Avenue playground. “… I know how badly we need the renovations in the West End … that park badly needs the renovations,” Fagen said. “But coming off a fiscal year where we lost close to $3 million, I’m concerned about where the cash is going to come from.”

Fagen added, “It’s come to our attention that this past fiscal year that closed, the city worked at an operating deficit … of close to $3 million.”

“I disagree with that,” Theofan said.

“It’s the information that’s coming out of the comptroller’s office,” Fagen responded.

Asked by Sofield whom he had spoken with, Fagen said that he would rather not say. “But I think those numbers are accurate,” he said.

“The reality is that you have a year in order to make these funds available,” Theofan said. “I would respectfully suggest that how we meet that match — we worry about that if and when we’re approved, and we can make those decisions at that time.”

Councilman Len Torres said he was not shown the playground proposal before the meeting. He noted after the meeting, however, that he had voted “yes” on the resolution because the deadline for applying for the state funds, Nov. 1, was approaching.

Asked about Fagen’s remark about the city’s fiscal standing, Torres said he could not speak in great detail. “Fagen made a call and got a preliminary assessment of the finances,” Torres said. “What they said was it didn’t look good.” He added, “I believe Long Beach needs to get a preliminary report. We should have an informed public.”

For his part, Theofan questioned Fagen’s claims and maintained that the city is fiscally sound. “Mr. Fagen makes up ‘facts’ right off the top of his head,” he said. “Fagen is in fantasyland. There is no way of knowing how we closed out last year. Our auditors have not finished the process.”

Torres said that the issues relating to both playgrounds need to be addressed, and mentioned Georgia Avenue neighbors’ concerns about safety. “But by the same token,” he said, “I feel the North Park area, which has had years of neglect, should also have the same kind of safety.”