Roe Park opening delayed to March

Construction on Roe Park in Blue Point was originally to be completed in November of last year, but supply delays have pushed the new opening date to early March.

“We’ve just been hit with a lot of materials being delayed,” said councilman Neil Foley (R-5th District).

“We have completed a good portion of the project,” said Parks Department commissioner Ed Morris of the construction carried out by Jan. 23.

The installation of a multi-sport court, which was sent out on Jan. 11 and is slated to be delivered via freight liner from Czechoslovakia by Feb. 15 should, be completed by the end of that month, weather permitting.

The pergola is currently being fabricated in the Parks Department shop and should be installed Saturday, barring any inclement weather.

“After that, it’s a matter of landscaping, weather permitting,” said Morris.

Daylighting the creek will occur with the landscaping in warmer months.

The heavy rain and battering storms of the past few weeks prompted the town to add a second silt fence and erosion control measures to the eastern slopes until the area is vegetated.

“These additional measures will further protect the creek from silt runoff,” said Foley.

“Overall, these are great updates that the project is progressing and is nearing completion of this wonderful asset for the community,” said Alex Wellems, vice president of the Blue Point Civic Association.

With funds from the county received by the town in the summer, Morris said the timeline was affected but realistic, given when purchase orders could be finalized.

During a commemorative press conference held in October of last year in front of the future Roe Park, elected officials, civic leaders, and the Schettino family gathered to celebrate the start of construction of a park that will be dedicated to Billy Schettino.

The dream and vision for a park came from local youth William Schettino, who tragically died in an accident before the plan could come to fruition, nearly 10 years ago.

Following his death in March 2012, Schettino’s family and friends continued to lobby lawmakers and elected officials for Roe Park to become actualized.

The Blue Point Civic Association became involved when then-legislator Robert Calarco attended a meeting and presented conceptual plans, but warned of a lack of funding.

BPCA member and local activist James Powers attended a Suffolk County Legislature budgeting meeting and gave an empowering, eloquent request for the additional funding to be assigned to the project.

The result was over $1 million allocated to the park from the county. After several additional years of negotiations, the land has finally been transferred from the county to the Town of Brookhaven.

During the press conference, a tearful Luigi Schettino, Billy’s father, thanked the elected officials and civic leaders, remarking, “It was all you guys who made this happen,” and expressed repeatedly how honored he and his family were for the dedication to their son/brother.