Substandard playing fields. Inadequate gym space. Not enough access to the Hudson River.

Those were just some of the concerns raised by residents, Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown officials and school administrators regarding existing recreational facilities and needs in the community as part of an ongoing study.

The study, being conducted by Albany-based Laberge Group and funded by a grant from the New York State Department of State, will result in the creation of a Recreation Master Plan and recommendations on how recreation resources, facilities and staff can be shared.

“There will be a number of options,” planner Jaclyn Patrignani of Laberge Group explained at a public forum January 25 at Sleepy Hollow High School. “Hopefully we’re focusing on what the villages and school districts want.”

According to a State Comprehensive Recreation Plan analysis, the 16 existing outdoor playing fields on 34 acres within the boundaries of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown are woefully below the recommended 64 acres of recreational open space. In addition, the three full-court and one half-court outdoor basketball courts fall short of the 10.8 courts recommended.

Adding insult to injury is most of the 50 attendees at the forum claimed virtually all of the outdoor playing fields in the community are poorly maintained.

“To kids there’s no difference between a school field and a village field,” said Sleepy Hollow Mayor Ken Wray. “They just want to play on a good field.”

The Laberge Group surveyed residents for three months in the latter part of 2009 and received nearly 650 responses, almost 57 percent of which were from children between the ages of 11 and 15. Interviews were also conducted with 21 community stakeholders from youth sports, senior citizen groups, government and the school district.

Not surprisingly, a shortage of field space and overuse of fields was cited often, along with unsafe field conditions and playground equipment. A lack of indoor facility space for sports and other activities was also frequently mentioned.

“We realize there are some inefficiencies of some of the particular activities between the villages and schools,” said Public Schools of the Tarrytowns Superintendent Howard Smith. “Hopefully we can come up with a structure that is a more efficient use of resources.”

Some potential opportunities to explore in terms of shared services that were suggested included a joint village-run community center, an indoor swimming pool and a centralized recreation department for Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.

Another public meeting is expected to be held in the spring and a final Recreation Master Plan and Shared Services Study will likely be completed by the end of the year.