County Aims to Complete Halls Pond Work By Spring

West Hempstead residents were elated to see Halls Pond Park re-open to the public on Sept. 1 after it had been closed for roughly a year as renovations were underway.

But when the gates came down, questions still lingered. Why was the north side of the park not finished yet? Why didn't the pond water look any clearer? And when would the project be completed?

Patch reader Yossi Azose wrote, "It is clear to anyone who has driven past Halls Pond on a regular basis over the past Spring and Summer that the renovation of the park has moved way too slowly."

Another reader, Brian Robb, added, "I will give it till spring and hope for the best but can't help to wonder how many people lined their pockets on this project."

Well, Robb may have his hopes fulfilled come springtime as Nassau County, which owns the park, is aiming to have all the remaining renovations completed this April. 

"The storm water component being conducted on the property north of the park is still ongoing," a spokesperson for the County's Department of Public Works, told Patch, but pointed out that the lingering construction has not interfered with pedestrian traffic in the park. "The County’s current schedule has completion of this component to occur in April 2012 to account for plantings, seeding and restoration."

This part of the project, which involves the installation of a storm water treatment baffle box, is expected to bring a noticeable improvement to the quality of water flowing into the pond by reducing the amount of floating trash and debris that enters from the watershed.

The majority of enhancements planned for the park were completed before its re-opening in September, including the installation of new benches, trash receptacles, lighting, a water fountain, gazebo, pond irrigation, a pedestrian bridge, new bridge railings, stamped concrete sections and a new nature trail in the northern wooded area.

Portions of the park were repaved (The bond did not cover repaving the entire park.) and other repairs, refacing, and retaining of walls was performed, as well as some landscaping. In early September and again in December, , also dedicated their time to cleaning up the community's cherished park.