East Aurora Advertiser

New Track on the Way for Hamlin, Splash Pad Could Follow



While the village tackled major infrastructure projects like the Oakwood Avenue replacement and the soon-to-be-completed Tannery Brook culvert update improvements to Hamlin Park were put off to the side. 

This year, with the Tannery Brook culvert bid results expected soon, the Village Board of East Aurora has started to turn its eye more towards Hamlin Park and improving the infrastructure there.

The baseball diamond gained some much-needed attention in the last couple of years and could see the East Aurora boys high school team return in a few weeks. The team stopped playing at the field two years ago because it became unsafe for players, but the updates have been done to bring them back. 

The Hamlin Park baseball diamond in 2019. Photo by Adam Zaremski

Next on the agenda is adding a new track around the field. The walking and jogging path update is expected to cost $200,000, and Village Administrator Cathie Thomas said the work could be completed this summer.

It is expected to be longer, going from a quarter-mile to a half-mile. The width is still under consideration, Mayor Peter Mercurio said at the April 14 meeting, adding that the current line of thinking is for a 12-foot wide track, and the current one is only 6-feet wide at this point. He said that would take up a lot of green space and should be discussed soon.

The other big item is a splash pad that could be used for children. Trustee Ernie Scheer said he was impressed with the splash pad in Orchard Park at its Green Lake Park. During a recent summer of painting houses in the region, he said he saw many people utilizing the feature and thought it could be a good addition to Hamlin Park. 

His plan is to get a grant so it does not cost the taxpayers money to install. He obtained estimates that could price it at $120,000. That would include installation of the splash pad and a section for 2 to 5-year-olds to play. He is now working with a grant writer to apply for funding. He does not expect this would be in place this year.

“We are going to try to do this not using taxpayer funds,” Scheer said. “I think it would be a cool thing to have…with the circumstances and our infrastructure costs and need to do [projects], this would be neat to do.”

No filtration system would be needed as it would just use village water. He said they could maybe use a cistern to collect the water runoff and then use it to water sections of the baseball field. The plans are still fluid. 

Its exact placement is not certain at this point. Two ideas include placing it west of the current basketball court, or it could go where the basketball court is located and the court would be moved. Some board members have discussed moving the court to realign it in a north to south position, and have it away from the playground. Scheer noted that from past experience there could be older people at the court using language not appropriate for the children and families at the playground. 

The board will continue to discuss improvements to the park at future meetings.

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