The following correspondence between
the KPSC and NYS Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro
led up to the
Dedication of the Nissequogue River State Park
and the
Preservation of the Soccer Fields at Tiffany Park

October 30, 1999

Ms. Bernadette Castro
New York State Commissioner of Parks
Agency Building # 1
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12238
 

RE: Kings Park Psychiatric Center
Use of Soccer Fields

Dear Ms. Castro:

    I am writing to you on behalf of the 650 families, which make up the Kings Park Soccer Club.

    For 25 years our club has made use of the parcel of ground inside the Kings Park Psychiatric Center known as Tiffany Field. Tiffany Field is located at the corner of the Blvd. and St. Johnland Road. Kings Park. This field which is utilized by our younger age groups which total 40 teams, and our travel divisions which total an additional 7 teams are crucial to our existence.

    This parcel has been improved (fences, permanent goals, storage facilities, steps, and handrails), and maintained, (grass cutting, planting, access road repair around the field, and field lining), at exclusive and significant expense to our membership for over 25 years.

    Our program operates year round,, includes in excess of 700 children, and relies exclusively on the energies and labor of volunteers. Our goal is simple, to give the youth of our community a positive and character building outlet for channeling their energies.

    Lately our organization has been concerned that our program faces great peril. We have heard that plans for the property range from developing the parcel for housing, to the building of a Hotel and Convention Center with Golf facilities. What we have not heard, is that any of the plans include a home for us.

    We believe that the most sensible use of the property would be to absorb it into the State Park System. The property could then be enjoyed by the community and organizations like ours for recreation and junior sports. Our own organization if granted control of the soccer fields, would continue as we have for decades to improve and maintain the facilities at our own expense. We believe that other organizations such as Kings Park Youth, and the Kings Park Lacrosse and Sports Club would be agreeable to an arrangement as we have outlined for the Soccer Club above, that would provide for maintenance and facility improvement at their own cost for facilities utilized by them.

    Programs such as ours provide youth with a healthy avenue for directing their energy. If local youths are involved with soccer, or other athletic activities, time otherwise spent hanging out or finding trouble is positively spent engaging in supervised and controlled activities.

    We believe that you as a fellow Long Islander understand the work we do and its value to the youth of our community. We believe that you share our values and share the same commitment to our youth. We ask that you propose our thoughts to the governor, and assist us in securing a quality recreation area for the youth and families of Kings Park, Fort Salonga, and Smithtown.

    We look forward to developing a dialogue with you. We will be glad to meet with you or your staff' if necessary to discuss any of the above. I wish to thank you in advance for your giving consideration to our thoughts.
 

Very truly yours,
 

Rudy Mastrocinque-President
Kings Park Soccer Club