Plans for sculpture and an outdoor social area celebrating the history of the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community at the 1.1-acre Wainscott Green — the site of the former Swamp nightclub — received support at an East Hampton Town Planning Board meeting on April 8, as it has at hearings before the town board and the town’s architectural review board.
The town board held a hearing on Dec. 4 to amend the management plan for the park. That allowed the plans to get to the planning board, which deemed the project acceptable in February. In March, the architectural review board gave its approval. The Wainscott Citizens Advisory Committee had also previously reviewed and shared support for the proposal at the property also known as Rick Del Mastro Memorial Park.
Tom House, founder of Hamptons Pride, speaking at the March A.R.B. meeting, said there was a common misconception that it was a memorial for the Swamp nightclub.
“It’s much bigger than that,” he said. “We actually see it as becoming its own entity. You know it’s going to be a social area for the East End L.G.B.T.Q.+ people and their allies on the East End. We’re calling this the Hamptons Pride Memorial at Wainscott Green.”
Dianne Benson asked him if events would be held at the park. “We hope to have our fund-raisers there,” said Mr. House.
Back at the planning board, a single caller addressed the proposal, which also includes a memorial garden for those from the East End lost to the AIDS epidemic.
Philip McCarthy owns the property on the northern border of the proposed park. “The front of my house and yard look into the park,” he said. “I support the park. I look forward to the beautification of the park in general and some privacy screening along my border would be great. I do hope it’s well used and a celebration for the community.”
The planning board received an additional email in support of the project that after the written period for comment had closed.
The public hearing was closed earlier this month.
The memorial, designed by Gustavo Bonevardi, is planned for the southeast corner of the park and will be linked to a parking area by a handicapped-accessible trail. Perhaps the most striking feature will be a “dance floor” sculpture, in the exact spot where the dance floor for the Swamp nightclub, which was popular in the gay community, once supported dancers.
