DEC Clears Northport's Cow Harbor Park, Basketball Court Project

NORTHPORT, NY — Cow Harbor Park was deemed safe by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation following a study in December.

A November 2022 boring study by McDonald Geoservices discovered the "odor of petrochemicals" near the potential dig site for a basketball court renovation project, prompting the DEC to oversee its own study over a year later.

The DEC will not require additional investigation at the Northport park, the site of a former LILCO power plant, an agency spokesman told Patch. The DEC said there was no indication of a petroleum release at the planned dig site and "considers this matter resolved."

"DEC takes all reports of potential environmental contamination seriously and works to ensure compliance with state laws and regulations that are protective of public health and the environment," the DEC wrote in a statement.

The DEC on Nov. 29 oversaw the collection of soil and groundwater samples at Cow Harbor Park by Village of Northport and Town of Huntington consultants, the agency said. The agency said the soil boring was done in the same spot as the 2022 boring that indicated the presence of a petrochemical odor at the soil and groundwater interface just over 5 feet below the surface. Mixed sand, loam and gravel are above the water.

The 2022 boring study caused tension on the Northport Village Board. Trustee Ernest Pucillo notified the DEC of the petrochemical smell, leading the agency to oversee the recent boring, after he said the village did not report it nor notify the trustees.

Deputy Mayor Joseph Sabia was fired from his position at a Nov. 8 board meeting after Mayor Donna Koch said on or about Oct. 24, Sabia and Trustee Dave Weber were "down in Cow Harbor Park, a clear violation" of the village's open meetings law. Sabia said the meeting was coincidental and not planned.

Koch, at the board meeting, said Sabia and Pucillo's actions were "nothing short of a coup d'é·tat" against the village.

Before the DEC did its boring study, Pucillo, Sabia and some village residents expressed health concerns regarding the planned basketball court expansion, as the park is the site of a former LILCO power plant.

"I am pleased that we can now say that Cow Harbor is safe for renovation and public access," Pucillo told Patch. "We can feel better that the people and children are not being exposed to any hazardous conditions."

Koch and Deputy Mayor Meghan Dolan did not respond to Patch's request for comment on the DEC clearance or basketball court project.

In 2021, the Northport High School 1995 Long Island Champion boys basketball team began fundraising efforts to refurbish the park's basketball court. Thomas Radman, a member of the 1995 Northport High School team, previously estimated the court would cost approximately $336K total.

More than $93K was raised on a GoFundMe, and Radman said $75K will be matched by a NYS State and Municipal Facilities grant.

The plan since the last estimate has been reduced in scope after all the pavers and masonry surrounding the court were removed, Radman said. The team is expecting a new estimate for the first phase of the project: building the court itself. Radman anticipated a figure of $154K for the court but expects that to change as material prices fluctuate.

Radman said it is "difficult" to say how much the second phase, beautification, will cost, but he said he anticipates a range of $80K to $140K.

"I'm not involved with just how much is being removed in this revised plan, that is a Northport village decision," Radman said.

Koch told Newsday that plans to expand the court from its current 53 feet by 40 feet to 66 feet by 50 feet are moving ahead. She said she expects to put the project out to bid this spring.

Weber said now that the DEC cleared the park, he looks forward to a board meeting where the village can discuss the project's schedule and process of hiring a contractor.

"Hopefully we will be starting construction soon," Weber said.

The original plan, which included masonry and pavers, put the beautification price around $200K. The revised plan would put the estimated cost of the entire project — both phases — between $234K and $294K.

Sabia, in November, said he wanted to protect everyone who walks in Cow Harbor Park and was concerned that digging up the park could be "potentially dangerous" if not cleared by the DEC.

"I am very glad the ground is clean and safe for everyone," Sabia said following the DEC boring results. "I am also glad that the basketball [court] is going forward as long as it does not cost the village taxpayers any money."

Pucillo said he is not opposed to having a basketball court in the park, noting the existing court has been there for years.

"The proposal to make the court bigger made many residents concerned about the new proposals," Pucillo said. "Unfortunately as sometimes happens residents became very upset about moving this plan forward without being consulted. I understand their concerns and I am listening to all about the issue."

Pucillo said he thinks he would like to pause moving ahead with the current plan and have a committee for the redevelopment of Cow Harbor Park. That committee, he said, could put proposals together, conduct surveys of residents and see if the village can find a solution that would be "agreeable to everyone."

"The basketball court was agreed to because the group supporting it led us to believe the park improvement would have zero cost to the village," Pucillo said. "Now it appears that may not be true. If it is not true, all the residents should have some input into the improvements. That’s where I stand."

Weber said he would vote in favor of the expansion as long as it does not cost taxpayer dollars. He said he still has questions and concerns regarding the project that he wants to ask in a public board meeting.

"I look forward to getting the project started," he said. "We have to remember where this grassroots project began, and it began with a true Northport community spirit."

Radman said the 1995 basketball team's role was to fundraiser as much money as it could to build the "best possible court for the place we grew up."

"We had never been involved with any of the soil tests but like everyone, we're glad the tests are clear and Northport can proceed with building the court," Radman said. "However, what the soil testing revealed to us from our vantage point as fund raisers was that there is a beautiful amount of support for this project."

Kevin Kavanaugh, a Northport Village resident, started a petition to halt the expansion of the basketball court in Cow Harbor Park. More than 830 people have signed the online version. Kavanaugh said he has around 160 signatures on paper.

Kavanaugh said Cow Harbor Park is a "serene seaside" area where residents walk their dogs, play with their children, sit for coffee, eat lunch or have conversations.

"The tranquility and natural beauty it offers are invaluable to us," Kavanaugh wrote on the petition. "However, a plan to expand a basketball court threatens to disrupt this peace."

Kavanaugh said the expansion would result in trees being cut down and grass getting replaced with concrete.

"This drastic alteration not only jeopardizes the natural charm of our park but also imposes financial burdens on taxpayers amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars," he said. "The consequences are far-reaching; this plan will change the face of our beloved park forever. While we understand and appreciate the need for recreational spaces like basketball courts within communities, there are numerous other locations within Northport that would be more suitable for such developments. We urge Huntington's local authorities to reconsider this decision and explore alternative sites for expanding athletic facilities without compromising Cow Harbor Park's unique character or burdening taxpayers unnecessarily."

Kavanaugh said Cow Harbor Park is the "most valuable asset" in the community and the basketball team wants to "glorify themselves in the most prominent spot" in the village. He said there are "many other places" in Northport for the court.

Kavanaugh said the village should put the planned basketball court expansion on the ballot so residents could vote on it.

Weber said the board will not do anything "unsafe or out of character" of anything in the village.

"All we’re trying to do is clean it up, beautify it and bring it up to current standards," he said. "We’re trying to do that without using taxpayer money. So the proposal from day one has been to not use taxpayer money. We’re continuing to find other sources of revenue outside of our village budget."