The Park at East Hills Restoration

East Hills, NY
Construction Cost: $15 million
Occupancy Date: September 2006

The Village of East Hills, N.Y., purchased the Roslyn Air National Guard Base to protect against future commercial development, save 20 acres of land in pristine natural condition and convert the remaining acreage into a sports and recreational park.

The 50-acre parcel contained numerous asbestos-filled structures, many built during World War II ? including a control center, barracks, a mess hall, and steam- and electric-generation plants. Today, the barracks have been replaced by facilities that designers say rival sports amenities anywhere in the country.

The initial phase of the project involved the demolition of 19 structures. Erosion-control measures were installed to minimize silt runoff, and trees removed during construction were chipped and used for jogging and nature trails and plant-bed mulch. Recycled concrete became the base for pavement and building foundations, and new underground electric, communication, security, water supply, natural gas and sanitary disposal systems were installed.

This infrastructure supports multiple sports fields, six tennis courts, a tennis lounge and pro shop, two basketball courts, playgrounds, trails, a bathhouse, leisure and wading pools, picnic and sledding areas, a dog run, a senior center and municipal government facilities.