Results are in from a survey sent to Massapequa Park residents and business owners in December 2004 by Mayor James Altadonna and the Village Board. The survey will be a useful tool for implementing a master plan for the area within the next five years, according to the the Mayor and the Board of Trustees.

In an effort to find out what residents were thinking, approximately 6,100 homes and businesses were surveyed. About 300 were completed, sent back and have been reviewed by the board.

"The survey gives very good feedback to village officials," said Mayor Altadonna. "We are very happy with the results."

One of the survey questions was what should be a priority in the Village. The answers ran the gamut from providing teen activities to keeping taxes down. Other residents felt that replacing sidewalks and curbs trumped better snow removal, while cleaning up after dogs rated higher than uncovering illegal apartments to some folks.

Road repair, better police protection, removing boats from private property, as well as removing corner obstructions were some additional concerns that residents of The Park had.

Many of the concerns came as no surprise to officials. The Village has already completed repairing 7 miles of roadway this year, some of which have never been done, said the Mayor. And, the Village is addressing concerns about density on residential properties and the storage of large boats on private property.

Residents also asked that the Village provide some additional services such as free transportation for seniors, free band concerts in the park and additional traffic lights. Some felt a volunteer program to assist seniors and a security patrol to locate illegal apartments would enhance the quality of life in Massapequa Park.

The Village is considering hosting a youth summer program, but clearly interest among residents was divided. Thirty percent said yes, they’d like participate in such a program. Forty seven percent were undecided. The Village will soon announce when the pilot program for one or two days will begin. High on this administration’s list is beautification, evident by the number of flowers and trees along Village streets. Locals feel that newer street signs, more trees and updated storefronts along the business district would help make the area even nicer. Others suggested that cleaning litter more often and getting rid of the proliferation of Canadian geese would help.

Sprucing up the corner of Park Boulevard and Sunrise Highway was suggested, which Altadonna is already looking into. It will include a gold star monument, honoring police and veterans, as well as landscaping.

People really like the Village’s newsletter, stating it was useful, as well as its website, although additional information should be added, such as the dates of leaf removal and pickups, said the respondents.

Fewer taxes and more parking spots was a common request on the survey but generally people noted that the quality of life in Massapequa Park was high.

In addition to the survey, the Village sent out a tax comparison for residents versus nonresidents, showing the division of property tax dollars and where the Village’s revenue comes from.

For example, school taxes total 66 percent of property tax, while county taxes are 16 percent, Town taxes are 12 percent and Village taxes are only 6 percent.

As for the Village’s revenue, 66.45 percent is from property taxes, 23.83 percent from other revenue, 5.76 from state aid, 4.51 percent from mortgage taxes, and .42 is from Nassau County taxes.

Altadonna said such information helps to combat the misconception that all of the taxes collected go to to the Village.