County to Leave Inwood Open Lot As Is

Nassau County has pulled the plug on the of an open lot in Inwood that local children use as a play area.

At the Planning Commission's Thursday meeting, the county’s real estate office withdrew the case on the lot located at Bayswater Boulevard and Peppe Road and no vote was taken, according to a county spokesperson. The only potential buyer was the Inwood Country Club, which considered using the space for a maintenance facility.

“We are thrilled that the property appears safe for now and we believe [it] will not be sold,” Patty Vacchio, the secretary of the who lives across the street from the lot, told Patch on Monday. “We have no immediate plans for the property, although neighbors have expressed some interest in ensuring that the property remain safe so we don’t have to go through this ‘worry’ again.”

The lot, although never designated as parkland, used to house swings and a seesaw, according to residents of the community. Even though the land was eventually cleared, kids still use the land, flying kites and playing soccer, football and stickball.

The county, in dire fiscal straits, has been looking to sell off properties. One of the pieces under consideration was the Bayswater lot. Nassau is also deciding on the fate of the Inwood property that houses its Public Works garage, which may be closed. Residents have also expressed with that potential move.

“We’re not asking for more, we’re just saying keep it how it is,” Peter Sobol said last week at a public meeting he helped arrange on the Bayswater property. “Once open space is gone, it’s lost forever. We’re just trying to say: this is our piece, we want to keep it.”

At that hearing, all the residents in the room raised their hands when asked if they agreed. In attendance of the meeting was Kristen Kotak, a member of the Open Space & Parks Advisory Committee, which voted last Wednesday to leave the lot as is.

Sandy Engel, chief financial officer of the Inwood Country Club, said at the meeting last week that the county had approached the club about purchasing the property. “We don’t want to take anything away,” he said. “Right now, I don’t want to see them put houses on there. We’re not against you. We’re with you. We’re not the problem.”

The Bayswater lot issue really became a sticking point for the Inwood community because residents said they feel the neighborhood is often ignored or cheated by the county.

“I can’t get a security guard or toilet paper at Inwood Park,” Vacchio said. “I’m tired of us being cut short and shortchanged.”

Legislator Howard Kopel said he realized the frustration of Inwood residents. “Inwood sometimes gets kind of shafted,” he said. “If the Town of Hempstead would come in and take it over it as a park, that would be the best thing.”

When asked if the county would be able to convert the property into a park, Kopel said, “The county is not doing anything now that costs a nickel. It just can’t.”

Whether the lot does become a park, for now, it will remain as is. “We are just excited for the children of the area,” Vacchio said. “We really want to thank the community members and neighbors for coming together and taking a stand — this truly was a joint effort."

She added, “A special thank you to Kristin and the committee at OSPAC who unanimously agreed that this property really is a designated ‘park’ regardless of how the county has it listed and needs to remain as is — an open play space for the children of the neighborhood.”