Erosion threatens Valley Stream South HS fields, prompts federal funding for fix
School administrators say the waterway has been eroding the embankment for years, creeping closer to school property.
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Just feet from where Valley Stream South High School students practice on the track and field, a creek is steadily eating away at the land, raising safety concerns and threatening millions of dollars in recent upgrades.
School administrators say the waterway has been eroding the embankment for years, creeping closer to school property. The district has already removed two storage containers because of the crumbling ground and installed a support beam to stabilize a barrier fence.
“Millions of dollars have been invested in this facility,” Superintendent Wayne Loper said.
In the past decade, the school has upgraded its football field, track and scoreboard. Officials warn that additional flood damage could force costly repairs on taxpayers.
“To see a track and football field go into a state of disrepair, it would have to be rebuilt at an extremely large cost,” Loper said.
To address the worsening conditions, Rep. Laura Gillen, D-Rockville Centre, said she helped secure $850,000 in federal funding to stabilize the area.
“Erosion that started with Superstorm Sandy and has continued is jeopardizing the safety and security of the students here and the infrastructure here,” Gillen said.
The district plans to use the funding to build a stone wall designed to protect the grounds from flooding and further erosion.
“One major storm could impact it right away,” Loper said.
Residents say the change has been noticeable over decades. Ellen Galluzzo, who has lived nearby since 1968, estimates significant land loss.
“Very big concern,” she said. “We’ve probably lost 12 feet from the backyard because of the erosion from the water.”
School officials say once the federal funds are received, the project will go out for bid, with construction expected to begin later this year.
