98 Projects for Safety, Infrastructure, and Recreation • East Hampton Town, NY

The East Hampton Town Board has adopted the Town’s 2026 Capital Plan, a three-year roadmap for proposed investments in municipal facilities, public safety, infrastructure, equipment, land acquisition, and priority studies that support future improvements.

Following two Town Board work session presentations, the 2026 Capital Plan includes 98 projects with a total projected cost of $17,401,980. The plan balances core needs with a careful approach to long term costs, combining new debt issuance with the strategic use of grants and limited use of unassigned fund balance.

“This is the work that keeps a town running,” said Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. “When a road floods, when a storm hits, when emergency responders need the right equipment, or when a family shows up to a park on a Saturday morning, people are counting on us to have made smart decisions long before that moment. The Capital Plan is how we do that, by investing in public safety, basic infrastructure, and the places that bring our community together, while staying disciplined about costs.”

The plan proposes issuing approximately $11.2 million in new debt in 2026, which is less than the amount of principal debt the Town expects to retire. The Town also anticipates $5,093,000 in grant funding and $1,065,000 in unassigned fund balance allocations to reduce long term borrowing and support key projects.

“Residents want to know that the Town is focused on real needs and real improvements,” said Deputy Town Supervisor David Lys. “This plan reflects that, with investments that support public safety, strengthen roads and drainage, protect Town technology, and improve community facilities. It is a practical approach and it keeps the Town moving in the right direction.”

Key investments and priorities in the 2026 Capital Plan include:

• Public safety and emergency coordination
  • Acquisition of land in Montauk for a future multi department Public Safety Center to improve coordination and provide appropriate staging space for personnel serving Montauk
  • Police and Marine Patrol equipment and facility improvements, including communications and operational upgrades
• Roads, drainage, sidewalks, and transportation infrastructure
  • Ongoing Highway investments including annual drainage projects, sidewalk reconstruction, road reconstruction, and equipment needed for operations and storm response
• Technology and cybersecurity
  • Upgrades to strengthen Town systems, including firewall replacement, expanded server storage, and an immutable backup system to support secure recovery
• Parks and recreation
  • Improvements at the Hon. Fred W. Thiele, Jr. Recreational Facility, including a concourse area, shade shelter, a new basketball court, and pickleball courts
  • Upgrades at Abrahams Path, including court refurbishments, pickleball courts, and a new sanitary system
• Major project grant requests
  • Requests for $4.5 million in New York State grant funding for replacement of the Sammy’s Beach Bulkhead and upgrades to the Lt. Lee Hayes Youth Park

The 2026 Capital Plan was adopted on February 5, 2026.