Police Department
In March, 853 Incidents required our Floral Park Police Department’s attention (in comparison with 695 in February). This number encompassed 255 traffic stops, 36 traffic accidents with damage and/or injuries, 3 residential fires/smoke conditions, 81 aided cases also involving our NYU Langone or Fire Department ambulance, 36 citizens needing assistance, 30 alarms of all types, 7 domestic incidents, 9 youth-related issues, 30 suspicious persons, and 6 important welfare checks.
One hundred sixty-nine violations, not including parking, were issued in March. Forty-four summonses were issued due to failure to stop at stop signs. Additional summonses were issued for disobeying traffic control devices (11), improper u-turns (10), speed not reasonable and prudent, inadequate lights, unlicensed operation of a vehicle, unregistered and uninspected vehicles, and other infractions that violate our Vehicle and Traffic Laws.
The Motor Carrier Unit is conducting ongoing truck inspections, especially during the month of April. These will be reported in our upcoming May Police Report.
Our FPPD Detectives perform an essential role as they conduct investigations seeking additional information and evidence when alleged crimes are committed. In March, our Detectives investigated ten incidents involving an unidentified teen, grand larceny (one involving an auto and another, a jewelry scam), petit larceny (shoplifting), criminal mischief (vandalism), and assault (cases of fighting and road rage). Please keep in mind that the above represents ten incidents. Our Detectives and Patrol Officers have also made nine arrests, year to date.
In the area of parking violations, 1,103 summonses were issued in March (as compared with 827 in February): 240 were for illegal 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. parking on the street, 337 for expired meters, 69 for parking over the four hour Village limit, 22 for parking under the railroad tracks without a permit, 14 for double parking (both disruptive to traffic and dangerous), 8 for parking in designated fire/emergency lanes, 7 for parking in spaces designated for the handicapped, 7 for parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, and other infractions. The Department will increase its focus on illegal parking in the fire/emergency lanes, in handicapped spaces and within fifteen feet of fire hydrants.
Save the date, Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The Floral Park Police will be once again participating in the important, semi-annual DEA Drug Take Back Day. You may bring your expired and unused medications to the Police Headquarters lobby, next to Village Hall, and deposit them in the marked boxes inside. But first, check out our FPPD Facebook page for important information and instructions including: Keep Them Safe. Clean Them Out. Take Them Back.
The Library
Do you know that this is National Library Week, from April 20 to April 25? Please be sure to visit the Library, check out any library item, and get your free chance to win a “mystery book” containing a gift card to The Harrison Restaurant. Apply for a new library card or renew an expiring card, and get your two chances to win. The drawing for our National Library Week “mystery book” and gift card winner will happen on April 27th.
Earth Day was Wednesday, April 22, and signaled the soft launch for the brand new “Seed Library,” opening for business. Patrons may come in and check out seeds that will be inside small packets with magnificent prints of the original John Lewis Childs Seed Catalog covers on the fronts of the packets. Many of these treasured prints, from the Floral Park Historical Society, were created in the late 19th century. There will also be interesting flyers for our patrons to view.
This unique “Seed Library,” with its historical seed packets, will be featured throughout the month of May. More glorious details to follow.
And now, for some Fun Facts about our Floral Park Public Library! Do you know that in 2025 there were 9,526 registered cardholders, and that’s 1,100 more than in 2024? In 2025, there were 115,703 visits to the Library; 45,235 items in the Library’s entire collection; 153,531 check-outs of many of these items; and 506 very popular Library programs and events, with 9,171 enthusiastic participants in all.
Let’s keep up all that FPPL spirit and fun in 2026!
Chambers of Commerce and Our Businesses
The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce is already looking ahead to its next meeting on Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m. at Crabtree. Come for a delicious Crabtree dinner, network, learn about the Chamber’s June 5 Belmont Stakes Street Fair, and meet new Crabtree owner Peter Hewitson, also owner of the famous Uncle Bacala’s Restaurant in Garden City Park.
And speaking of the Chamber’s very successful Belmont Stakes Street Fair, now in its fourth year, join with our local businesses and Village for a BEST time on June 5 starting at 5 p.m. on Tulip Avenue. There’s SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!
To register for the May 7 meeting and/or for a spot at the June 5 Street Fair, go to:
Stay tuned, lots more Belmont Stakes and Street Fair excitement to follow.
And treat yourselves by SHOPPING AND DINING LOCAL, right here in Floral Park and Stewart Manor! You’ll be glad you did.
Trustee Frank Chiara
Department of Public Works
The Highway Department crews have been actively filling potholes throughout the Village. In the last week, they have filled a total of 75 potholes, repaired damaged manhole covers, and cleaned the Stewart Street parking lot where snow removed from our roads was stored.
The Park Department crews are continuing their spring cleanup. They are checking and repairing sprinklers in all of the parks and around the Village buildings. They have completed an upgrade to the pocket park at Vandewater and Plainfield Avenue and will begin the upgrade of Lions Park this week. Additionally, watering of the new plantings is taking place.
The Tree Department crews have been very busy over the last two weekends trimming several trees in Centennial Gardens, as well as 15 others throughout our Village. A crimson maple tree is scheduled to be planted at the Recreation Center on Friday, April 24th to celebrate Arbor Day. A reminder to residents that Centennial Gardens is now open daily from 12 PM to 5 PM, weather permitting.
The Sanitation Department has collected 67.5 tons of household waste, 7 tons of paper, 3.5 tons of comingled plastics, and 16 tons of bulk rubbish.
Here is an update on the West End Drainage project:
All drainage work on the affected streets in the West End has been completed.
ADA ramps and cement restoration have been finished.
Restoration, including the placement of topsoil and sod in areas disturbed during the project, will take place this week.
The digging of the new recharge basin should be completed by the end of next week.
Pipe connections for the dead ends in the West End will be installed next week.
National Grid is in the process of replacing the gas mains in that area and expects to complete this work in two weeks.
The final phase of paving is tentatively scheduled for early May.
Please note that all schedules are subject to change.
4VS
Four Village Studio currently has openings for high school and college students to join its volunteer staff. The studio has a long history as a successful educational facility offering career-building knowledge and experience in media production. Interested students from the Four Village area, aged 15 and over, should contact the studio to set up an informational interview. Please email 4vs@4vs.org or call 516-326-1150 to schedule an appointment. To learn more about Four Village Studio, visit www.4vs.org.
Trustee Jennifer Stewart
Fire Department
Welcome to the next chapter of service in the Floral Park Fire Department. We are proud to welcome the new Chief’s staff, led by Chief of Department Eric O’Connor, and look forward to the leadership, dedication, and perspective he will bring to our community. The Chief Staff’s commitment to protecting our residents and strengthening our department is deeply appreciated.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing Chief’s staff, with special thanks to Chief Luger, for his years of dedicated service. His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting impact on our department and our Village. Thank you for your hard work, sacrifice, and the strong foundation you leave behind. A special thanks goes to ex-Chief Luger’s family, especially his wife Barbara. The families of our Fire Department members make sacrifices as well. While their firefighter is training, fighting a fire, or responding to a call, they are home, holding down their respective forts so their firefighter can do wherever is needed to help our residents in need.
We welcome Chief of Department, Eric O’Connor, and his staff: Chief William Lauria, Chief Fred Sangen, and Chief Kevin Fogarty. We wish them a safe year leading the department.
Additionally, we welcome probationary FF Colton Wrage and wish him a safe career in our department. Perhaps being Board-approved on the same night his Chief is sworn in foreshadows his future in the department.
Cultural Arts Committee
The Village Wide Picnic and Fireworks will be held at the Recreation Center on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 7 p.m. Summer Concerts in Memorial Park begin on Friday, June 26. A flyer with all of our bands will be available early next week. Stay tuned.
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Building Department
Here are some updates on the various construction projects in our Village:
Tonight, you heard the below-grade parking decision for Stella’s mixed-use development. The decision made was only related to the parking request. The next hearing in this process will be for zoning. No date for that has been set. Please visit the website for updates.
Work on the West End Drainage project is progressing well and is tracking slightly ahead of schedule. It is about 70% complete. There are regularly scheduled update meetings with all parties involved. Check out our Village website for any updates that may occur regarding the project.
Construction work for the proposed restaurant at 99 Covert Avenue will continue for the next several months and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.
The Covert Avenue fire property construction is well underway and is estimated to be completed in the summer of 2026.
The Storage Post at 50 Carnation Avenue, has submitted a zoning application to expand its storage buildings. This case was approved with conditions by the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board of Trustees, and the Architectural Review Board. The buildings will be reviewed by the Building Department next for permitting. Construction start dates will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Construction of the two new homes at the 32 Orchid subdivision and one home at 116 Miller Avenue is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
The renovation of 212 Jericho Turnpike, formerly Firestone, is ongoing. The owner will operate an auto repair shop in the rear portion of the first floor and have retail/business space in the rest of the building.
The King Arms Building at 60 Plainfield Ave is still undergoing fire restoration; a date for pre-occupancy is not currently available.
Now that the weather is warming up, this is a reminder that properties and sidewalks must be free of weeds, grass must be mowed, and all landscaping along the sidewalks must be trimmed so it does not overhang.
Recreation and Pool
Congratulations to our Floral Park Little League, which opened its 2026 season this past Saturday with a great parade through town and ending at the Recreation Center, the opening ceremonies, the first baseball and softball pitches, and the wonderful cry of “Play ball!”. This was followed by the annual Pitch, Hit & Run competitions, dunk tank, bouncy houses, food, and entertainment. It was a great day and a wonderful season opener for our young stars.
Repairs have concluded on the basketball courts, as well as the annual surface repairs to the tennis courts. Our park is open and in full swing. A reminder to all residents: courts are subject to weather and surface conditions. They are open each day with the approval of the Superintendent when deemed safe and playable.
The mini pool brochure will be going out soon via mail and will also be available for viewing on our website. Please keep an eye out for the new and exciting programs and events planned for the summer. The pool is scheduled to open on June 13. The Recreation Center will host the Village’s 250th semi-quincentennial celebration on June 20th.
Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee
The next meeting is on Monday, April 27, at Town Hall, One Washington Street in Hempstead. If you wish to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You may also visit the Village website, where links to TVASNAC noise complaint resources can be found on the homepage under the TVASNAC contact information section.
Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald
April 27 is a special evening and it goes to show just how special Floral Park is, with the dedication of over 100 volunteer firefighters. Another thing that makes Floral Park a special place to live is the ongoing drainage project. I would like to recognize Superintendent Ginnane for all he has done, especially visiting residents’ homes to address questions and concerns about the project. Kevin, thank you for making those personal visits. I don’t think that happens across the border in Queens. So, thank you very much.
Trustee Chiara and I will be attending the Belmont Community Advisory Board meeting for the new Belmont Park on Monday, May 4. We will have a report at the next Board meeting the following evening. I believe we will get a tour of the new facility, which is on track to be open on September 18, 2026.
I would also like to thank J. Cav Scott of the Long Island Press for being here with us tonight to cover the Village Board meeting, as well as for helping share information about what is happening in this great and busy village.