A CALL TO ACTION: The Old Bethpage Village Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge
As a follow-up to the December 15th post concerning the deterioration of the Old Bethpage Village Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge and its surrounding area, Joe E. has submitted the following report with photos:
Joe E: " I studied the area and found a trail off to the side to get underneath the overpass, and it is a rough trail, the graffitti artists came in through a hole in the fence that most likely leads to a factory parking lot on Spagnoli Rd. Another problem is the farmland that an outside company grows crops on, but it does make a few pennies for the County. The problem is that the farm is using the open "hole" underneath and in front of the span to dump their crop waste.The pile will just keep growing. It looked to me like last years onion and garlic crop stalks, but that also means in order to toss them in the spot they're in, they have to park on top of the bridge, unless they are bringing them back there by human power which I am not sure of."
Joe E: "The only way anything will happen we go down there with a bucket of gray paint and two rollers. As strange as it seems,the artists actually protected the surface of the concrete facade with there base coat.The concrete finish coat on the abutments was originally troweled onto bolted-on steel mesh,which you can see pulling away, but very little facade has actually crumbled away. It is sagging in places but mostly intact. It's funny because I wondered what it would take to preserve this area, clean out underneath the overpass,some household debris on the south side of the pass (cans,old fridges,shopping carts, beer cans, etc.). I pictured some benches around moderate landscaping on a bed of crushed bluestone with some modest structure, like an information kiosk, or covered billboard."
A CALL TO ACTION
Based on the reports of Joe E ., Charles Muller and many others, it is once again necessary to organize as a group to preserve the history and remnants of the Long Island Motor Parkway. Although the beloved convenor of the Long Island Motor Panel Sam Berliner III has moved to Boston, Al Velocci, my favorite co-author, and I would like to immediately revive this advocacy group. If you wish to be part of the Long Island Motor Parkway Panel, please leave a comment or send an email to me at [email protected] . We plan on calling a meeting in February. Let's do it for Willie K. !!!
January 26, 2011 Update: Howard Kroplick: Hold the Date: The Long Island Motor Parkway Panel will be meeting On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at the Bonwit Inn, 1 Vanderbilt Parkway, Commack, beginning at 7:00 PM. Everyone interested in the Long Island Motor Parkway are invited to attend.
Links to related posts on VanderbiltCup Races
Old Bethpage Restoration Motor Parkway Bridge to Receive a Cleaning
Index: Motor Parkway Preservation
Comments
Howard—
We have spoken a few times and met once or twice. Not sure what I can offer but would certainly like to sit with other folks interested in the Parkway and see what might be done.
Elliot Zolin
516-551-8987
Howard
Count me in , let me know what I can do. Perhaps what you have written here should go out to all of the car clubs you list on your site with a request they place it in their publication , be it print or electronic. I would be happy to put this in the next publication we mail to the members of the Long Island Sound Region of the Classic Car Club of America. Let’s do it for Wille K!
Walt Gosden
Howard,
I worked in one of those factory buildings on Spagnoli Road during the 1970s. I never knew the parkway ran through that area until I discovered your wonderful site years ago.
I would like to help in some way. I have a modest website http://www.ashautomobilia.com on which I would be happy to post information about the group’s efforts.
I’m still living on the island and I have developed a real interest in the history of the VMP through your website postings and alerts. I’d like to help somehow with getting this bridge cleaned up and turned into another attraction within the Old Bethpage Village Restoration compound.
Shoot me an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) as I have at least one idea that might fly!
Howard - definitely count me in for the February get together and any clean-up efforts at the Old Bethpage site or anywhere else.
Art K.
Hello Howard,
I’ve been interested in the history of the LIMP since I accidentally discovered a portion of the road near I. U. Willets Rd. as a kid back in the 1950’s. I’ve seen many pieces of the road fall to the wrecker’s ball over the past half century. Please count me in with your “Call To Action” regarding the Bethpage bridge. Keep up the good work.
Steve Lucas
631-654-1712
From Chris G:
Count me in
It would be nice to see this bridge intact and operational someday as part of a 45 mi bike path back to the past. Count me in.
Hello Howard,
I would be interested in helping as well. I visited the Bethpage Bridge a week ago and it’s in worse shape than when I was there for the first time a few years prior. The amount of garbage is incredible! The openings to the bridge are almost cut off because the debris is stacked so high.I think they are intentionally trying to seal off the bridge openings by dumping both perishable and non perishable garbage there. Obviously its workers from Bethpage Village who are dumping anything unwanted in and over the bridge. Trucks are driven on the bridge and truckloads of garbage are dumped over the side. Because of this the curbing and railings are gone. The Village Restoration has to take some of the blame for the appaling conditions. In the very least they should be concerned that their workers are driving trucks over a span that could give way under the weight of the trucks.I am sure their insurance company would want the area better secured, and safe, to avoid future claims. Even the hole in the fence has not been repaired. This historical spot could be a attention grabber and money maker for Bethpage Restoration.All we would have to do is convince the right people.
Hi Eric: Thanks for the report. I have contacted both the Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Nassau County Department of Parks this week requesting an update on their plans to clean and restore the bridge. To date, they have not resturned my calls or emails. They obviously have not seen what happens when LIMPers get upset. Stay tune!!
Howard