The Boundary Quandary
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

An old issue came to the forefront once again as the Garden City Board of Trustees, during a discussion over whether the snow fence should be removed from the southern edge of St. Paul's field during the summer, started an old debate over what should protect field users from drivers along Stewart Avenue.

The vote at the June 21st meeting was 7 to 1, with Trustee Donald Brudie being the lone dissenter. Trustees decided to ask the Recreation Commission for their recommendation on whether the snow fence should be removed during July and August and what, if anything, should be placed along the southern border of the field, as long as it does not include erecting an estate-style fence.

The estate-style fence was voted down by trustees on October 19th. The Recreation Commission, after seeking input from the public and POAs, originally recommended the estate-style fence, saying it was needed for safety reasons to prevent children from running into the street and to serve as a hindrance to vehicles that may accidentally veer off Stewart Avenue.

The issue dates back more than two years ago, when the project, which at the time consisted of an estate-style fence and a walking/jogging path, was scheduled to go out to bid. Over the next year, the Board met overwhelming opposition to the path from residents and eventually decided to drop consideration of the issue.

The need for a fence was also debated at the time, with some residents calling for shrubs. The fence style also caused some controversy as some residents claimed the black, 4 1/2-foot high estate-style fence recommended by the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs looked like a cemetery. Brick pilasters measuring five feet tall would be situated every 150 feet, with two at the main entrance.

The Village had planned to take advantage of a grant procured by Senator Kemp Hannon to install a fence along the St. Paul's property. The grant is from money made available to legislators to distribute as part of the Community Capital Assistance Program. It is a reimbursement grant, so the Village would have to lay out the money for the fence and then submit the appropriate forms to receive up to $90,000.

At last Thursday's meeting, Deputy Mayor Thomas Lamberti, calling the snow fence a "scar on the beauty of St. Paul's field," said that the fence should be removed during the summer months when scheduled activities on the field are at a minimum. The snow fence originally was up from November through April but at some point the Village started keeping it up all year.

Kevin E. Ocker, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs, in a letter submitted to the Board, recommends that the snow fence remain to protect residents who may use the field in the summer for walking or a "pick-up game." He also said a small hedge should be planted to provide a more aesthetically-pleasing green barrier. The cost is estimated to be $30,000 plus maintenance.