Bayport Beach To Get TLC But Swim Season Shorter

Bayport Beach will get some much needed TLC in the next month as Islip Town officials are promising residents that playground equipment will be replaced and sand will be replenished if needed.

But the bad news is that town financial constraints will push back the official life guard season a full month, starting June 30 instead of Memorial Day weekend.

The town beach, at the end of Paulanna and Gerritsen avenues, suffered damage from a hurricane at the end of last summer and despite a light winter sustained some beach wear and tear.

A resident living near the beach reached out to the Islip Town parks department in late April inquiring about repair work.

In its response letter the town parks commissioner states the town will remove sand in the lot, mow grass and install a snow fence, but the boardwalk along the bay to the gazebo will not be replaced.

"We're broke," said Islip Town Councilman John Cochrane, who answered questions about park repair work during the Bayport Civic Association's (BCA) monthly meeting Tuesday night at the United Methodist Church.

Cochrane told BCA members, who asked about replacing slides and other playground equipment taken offsite due to safety concerns, that he'll ask the parks department to replace what was damaged.

"The beaches are caught in the cost-cutting operation we're currently having to do," said Cochrane, noting that lifeguard hours will also be reduced. The lifeguards will only be on duty Friday through Monday, instead of the full week in past seasons.

"We're having to make these tough [budget] decisions everywhere," Cochrane said.

One resident and BCA member, who said he has lived near the beach for 30 years, described the park as being in the worst shape he's ever seen.

BCA President Bob Draffin said he's happy about the planned repair work even if it's not everything needed.

"Bayport Beach is near and dear to our hearts, it's a neat little part of Bayport," he said, recalling how he, during his childhood years, would bike down to the beaach with friends during summer vacations.

"There aren't that many special places in our town maintained by Islip Town but this is one of them," he said, noting the park was recently christened in honor of Bayport resident Glen Ciano, a Suffolk County police officer killed by a drunken driver in 2009 as he responded to a call for help from a fellow officer.