(SEA CLIFF, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D - Glen Cove) has secured passage of an inter-municipal agreement (IMA) that will deliver $85,000 in capital funding to the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff for the renovation of two baseball fields at Clifton Park.
The full Legislature voted unanimously to approve the IMA on Monday, April 26. Using those funds, the Village will: strip clay and grass from the infield; replace those areas with new clay and sod with appropriate drainage; rebuild pitchers’ mounds; and replace old bases with new home plates and safety bases.
“These improvements will make Clifton Park safer and more enjoyable for the leagues, teams and families who come here to participate in America’s pastime at every level,” Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I thank my colleagues for unanimously saying ‘Play ball!’ to a project that will benefit the Sea Cliff community and Nassau residents for many seasons to come.”
The upgrades will deliver much-needed TLC to the ball fields, which are open to all Nassau County residents and frequently utilized by residents of the North Shore School District and members of the Sea Cliff Baseball League; the North Shore Softball League; the Firefighters Fifth Battalion Baseball League; and others.
“We are simply thrilled and so thankful for Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton’s efforts to secure the funding to improve the fields for our children,” said James W. Versocki, Commissioner of the Sea Cliff Junior Baseball and North Shore Softball Association. “Our community league has grown - especially due to the pandemic as parents look for outdoor activities for their children - and these funds will help us provide these activities with improved and safer fields. On behalf of our league and our community we thank Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton, the Legislature and the County Executive for supporting our children.”
“Baseball is part of the fabric of life. The sight of children on a ballfield is one of the first signs of the promise of spring. In the aftermath of COVID, nothing could be more gratifying than the restoration of the ball fields at Clifton Park,” said Sea Cliff Mayor Elena Villafane. “On behalf of all of the children of Sea Cliff who will enjoy the restored fields for years to come, I wanted to express our deep appreciation to Legislator DeRiggi Whitton for all of her hard work in bringing this opportunity to Sea Cliff.”