Letters

Who benefits from Fred Thiele’s windmill [“State Budget Authorizes Southampton Town To Partner With Stony Brook University for Windmill Repairs, Using CPF Revenue,” 27east.com, April 23]? Certainly not the general public.

The trouble is, you cannot see it. Because of the trees and buildings, this windmill is not visible from Tuckahoe Road. From Montauk Highway, you may be able to capture a brief glimpse only if you know where to look as you drive past the Stony Brook Southampton campus.

I have a suggestion. Adjacent to Montauk Highway and Tuckahoe Road is a massive lawn that wraps around and surrounds the campus, ending at the railroad tracks. Why not make this sprawling green lawn a new sculpture garden? All over the world, art is being placed in public spaces to enrich their communities. I would like to see that happen here.

Place State Assemblyman Fred Thiele’s windmill in this space, next to the road, where you can see it.

The plan is to remake the windmill using Community Preservation Fund money. Hopefully, it will be a work of art with the $2 million budget. At least the community will benefit by seeing it.

Just imagine for a moment a new sculpture garden surrounding the new hospital and the new housing complex. With some creative imagination and vision, we can make this neglected area so extraordinary that the world will take notice.

Millions and millions of dollars are destined to this area in the next few years. It would take little to no money to set up this sculpture garden. Just place the sculptures on the lawn. Nothing is needed; maybe run some electricity for lighting, or not.

The welcoming art will be good for the future hospital, the future housing project and the community. With no money and an opportunity, why not make this hospital/housing complex something special first, starting with an outdoor art sculpture garden? After all, this area was America’s first outdoor summer school of art.

It’s going to take courage — the courage for a leader to stick their neck out. Do we have a leader who is willing to reject average and ordinary? Is there a leader with a vision of enriching other people’s lives and willing to make a lasting legacy with a beautiful sculpture garden to complement the new hospital and housing complex?

James Ding

Southampton