Citing Nassau County's ongoing fiscal problems, the Village of East Hills Board of Trustees has decided to postpone the scheduled March 5 bond vote, one designed to provide funds for the construction of the planned Park at East Hills.

The bond was set at $25 million, one that would have been paid for over a 22-year period. The BOT has set no new date for the vote.

Mayor Michael R. Koblenz has written a letter, one to be sent to all residents of the village, which explains the BOT's decision. In it, the mayor notes that the BOT, over the past eight weeks, has met with over 650 families to "present proposals on the new park and [to] listen to their questions and concerns."

The mayor claimed that "significant support" for the park was found at all the meetings. "At these meetings," he continued, "the message we heard resonating over and over again was that there exists serious concern over the recession fueled by the events of September 11; the tax impact of Nassau County's reassessment; and the possible additional new taxes which could be imposed by Nassau County to curb a growing deficit now at $400 million."

The BOT, the mayor also noted, had planned on scheduling a vote on the referendum on the park for March 5. But after listening to resident concerns, that body has decided to "postpone further action on the future of the park until the impact of reassessment has been learned and our residents' immediate tax concerns have been answered sufficiently."

The mayor also updated residents on recent happenings concerning the park. He said that the village has sold four acres which "offset the costs to acquire the 50-plus acre property." This means, the mayor added, that the village has already received in excess of the $3,010,000 it paid to purchase the entire tract of land. "Our new land," the mayor said, ".... has cost us nothing, and therefore we have the liberty of regrouping. As soon as the economic environment improves, we will be suggesting an alternative solution." Mayor Koblenz closed his letter by welcoming any and all input by East Hills residents.

Throughout all of 2001, local residents have volunteered their time to serve on numerous committees concerning the park's various functions. Among the concerns voiced by residents are the cost of building and maintaining the park, what traffic it might bring to the area, and the planned amenities themselves. Mayor Koblenz has stated that part of the bond would go toward complete maintenance of the park site.