Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn will be getting a $3 million set of upgrades, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and other officials announced at Wantagh Park Tuesday morning, as part of a larger $15 million park revitalization plan.
Curran said the initiative, with items ranging from investments in better lighting and pickleball courts to refurbished playgrounds and buildings, is designed to increase recreational options, fix up community spaces and boost the appeal of Nassau County.
“When we talk about improving parks in Nassau County, we’re really talking about improving the lives of our residents,” Curran said. “Park maintenance and enhancement is key to making Nassau County a better place to live, work and, most importantly, play.”
The plan also involves consolidating the Department of Public Work’s projects, officials said, rather than having them scattered throughout the county capital plan.
“Now what we’re trying to do is identify comprehensive projects for a specific park rather than piecemeal individual capital projects,” said Brian Schneider, the deputy county executive for public works. “We’re trying to view it almost as a master plan for each park.”
Schneider pointed out that funding for park projects can vary widely from year to year, so it’s difficult to compare to past years, but said this marks a “significant insurgence of funding.”
In the case of Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn, Curran highlighted plans to restore an old concession building by 2020 and create an entertainment area in another part of the park for concerts, movies, and possibly even Tai Chi classes.
“This is a concession amenity building that has been out of service for about 10 years. It’s just wasted space right now,” Curran said.
“We’re going to be transforming the old pond site, also at Christopher Morley, to become a community entertainment space,” she said.
Schneider and Curran said these two larger projects will likely be finished in 2020, whereas safety improvements and resurfacing should be done by summer.
The two other parks central to the plan include Centennial Park in Roosevelt, which will receive $3 million in new investment, and Wantagh Park in Wantagh, the subject of $1.5 million worth of projects.
Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Inwood Park in Inwood, Cedar Creek Park in Wantagh, Bay Park in East Rockaway, Cantiague Park in Hicksville, Cow Meadow Park in Freeport, and Nickerson Beach Park in Lido Beach will also see various improvements from the plan.
“With concerts, summer camps, sports leagues, premier golf courses, marathons and more, Nassau County’s parks see over a million visitors annually,” Curran said. “By continuing to modernize our parks, we create viable destinations for entertainment and community, increasing tourism and spurring economic activity.”
