'Music in the Park' free concert returns to Heckscher

The free "Music in the Park" concert presented for all but one of the last 33 years by the Islip Arts Council returns Saturday night.

Ever since the Long Island summer tradition was canceled in July 2009, Lynda Moran of the arts council and William Lindsay, presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, have worked to resurrect it. "Music in the Park" - for the first time featuring the Long Island Philharmonic - begins at 8 p.m. in East Islip's Heckscher State Park.

"People were in turmoil about it," Lindsay, a Democrat representing eastern Islip, said of last year's cancellation.

For years, the concert was funded chiefly by State Senate "member items," funds awarded to community projects. But last summer's leadership standoff precluded any appropriation until it was too late to save the concert.

The Long Island Philharmonic was ready to step into the breach. But without state funding the concert was doomed.

Prospects were shaky this year, too, as the state failed to pass a budget. But Lindsay had put in motion a plan last fall to raise money to fund Suffolk County cultural events and institutions, such as the financially troubled Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport. Lindsay worked with state Assemb. Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) on legislation to increase the county hotel/motel tax from 3/4 to 3 percent.

"There was broad bipartisan support," Lindsay said. "It made sense because we had one of the lowest room taxes in the state. I asked Lynda what she needed - the minimum."

It was $75,000, mostly to pay the Long Island Philharmonic's freelance musicians. And that led to a last-minute snag. Ordinarily, appropriations are paid out after the event. But the Philharmonic's deal with its musicians requires 50 percent upfront. An exception was made in a committee vote last month, in time to get the checks out.

The concert will be followed by Grucci fireworks. Although the music is free, there's a $10 parking fee until 5 p.m., a suggested donation after 5. No one will be admitted after 7:30 p.m.